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Effects of deep eutectic solvent on laccase activity and thermal stability
Li Yang1, Jia Chen1, Kangshun Xie1
1College of Biomass Science and Engineering, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China; Key Laboratory of Leather Chemistry and Engineering, Sichuan University, Ministry of Education, Chengdu, China.
Bioresource Technology
|July 18, 2025
Summary
Deep eutectic solvents (DES) enhance laccase enzyme activity and stability. A betaine-sorbitol DES solution significantly boosted glucose conversion in biomass, offering insights for sustainable biocatalysis.
Area of Science:
- Biotechnology
- Enzyme Engineering
- Green Chemistry
Background:
- Laccase biocatalysis faces challenges with enzyme activity and thermal stability in industrial applications.
- Deep eutectic solvents (DES) are emerging as tunable media for enzymatic reactions.
Purpose of the Study:
- To systematically screen DES systems for optimizing laccase biocatalysis.
- To investigate the molecular mechanisms behind DES-induced enzyme stabilization.
- To evaluate the impact of DES-enhanced laccase on biomass conversion.
Main Methods:
- Screening of 18 DES systems with varying hydrogen bond acceptors (HBAs).
- Enzyme activity and thermal stability assays.
- Fluorescence spectroscopy (FS) and molecular docking for structural analysis.
- Assessing glucose conversion in lignocellulosic biomass (distillers' grains and poplar wood).
Main Results:
- Five HBAs significantly improved laccase activity and thermal stability.
- Choline dihydrogen phosphate-glycerol DES achieved a 198% activity increase.
- Betaine-sorbitol DES maintained 92% activity after 1 hour at 70°C, a 55-fold improvement over buffer.
- DES-laccase pretreatment enhanced glucose conversion by 30% in distillers' grains and 54% in poplar wood.
- FS and docking revealed DES stabilizes laccase via hydrogen bonds with key residues (His, Phe).
Conclusions:
- DES are effective, sustainable co-solvents for enhancing laccase performance.
- Molecular interactions between DES and laccase explain improved stability.
- This work provides a foundation for designing advanced biocatalytic systems for the circular bioeconomy.
