Expression of CotA laccase in Pichia pastoris and its electrocatalytic sensing application for hydrogen peroxide

The CotA laccase from Bacillus subtilis WD23 was successfully overexpressed in Pichia pastoris, and the production level reached 891.2 U/L. The recombinant CotA laccase was purified to homogeneity. The optimal enzymatic activity was found at pH 4.6, 6.6, and 6.8 for 2, 2'-azino-bis (3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonate) (ABTS), 4-hydroxy-3, 5-dimethoxybenzaldehyde azine (SGZ), and 2, 6-dimethoxyphenol (2, 6-DMP) oxidation, respectively. The maximal enzyme activity was observed at 80 °C with SGZ as a substrate. The kinetic constant K m values for ABTS, SGZ, and 2, 6-DMP were 162 ± 20, 24 ± 2, and 166 ± 18 μM, respectively, with corresponding k cat values of 15 ± 1.0, 7.6 ± 1.5, and 0.87 ± 0.1 s(-1). Remarkably, the laccase activity increased to 561.9 % of its initial activity at pH 9.0 after 7 days of incubation and the half-life of laccase inactivation was approximately 3 h at 80 °C, which indicated that the recombinant CotA was a highly thermo-alkali-stable laccase. Bioelectrocatalytic reduction of H2O2 by the CotA laccase was detected when the recombinant CotA was adsorbed on pyrogenation graphite electrodes. Based on the bioelectrocatalytic reduction, a mediator-free amperometric biosensor for hydrogen peroxide was designed. The linear range of the H2O2 biosensor was from 0.05 to 4.75 mM, with a detection limit of 3.1 μM. The amperometric biosensor for H2O2 by CotA-modified electrode is a novel application for CotA laccase.