Laccases: Thriving the domain of bio-electrocatalysis

Laccases have been in the spotlight due to its capability to catalyse electrocatalytic reactions. The Its ability to reduce water to oxygen has made it more bio-compatible than majority of electrocatalysts. The exploitation of such biocatalysts via protein engineering and biotechnological techniques have rendered a significant breakthrough in the field of electrocatalysis. This review aims to provide a comprehensive overview of the various laccase-driven electrocatalytic reactions. Structural and functional features of laccases that contribute towards the electron transfer mechanism and reduction potential have been meticulously described. Tailoring of laccase affords an excellent prospect for its application in diverse fields like, biocathode fabrication for enzymatic biofuel cells, biosensors, and electrocatalytic reactions like water splitting. The substantial knowledge of enzyme engineering, primarily through site directed mutagenesis is propitious for the design of optimal bioelectrocatalyst. This review seeks to provide an insight for the optimisation of electrocatalytic properties of laccase thereby broadening the horizon for the development of resilient and biocompatible bioelectrocatalyst.