Journal of Biotechnology & Biomaterials
Open Access

Abstract

The laccase enzyme has got tremendous applications in diverse industrial processes including biomass delignification, biopulping in paper and pulp, as denim stone wash agent, detergents, bioremediation and biosensor development. Monomeric 66 kDa laccase produced by Trametes versicolor IBL-04 in SSF of corn cobs (911 U/mL) was purified through ammonium sulphate precipitation, dialysis, ion-exchange chromatography and gel filtration. The purified laccase was immobilization using chitosan as support material and glutaraldehyde as activator/crosslinking agent. Chitosan concentration of 2.5% was optimum for preparation of most stable 2.0 mm size chitosan beads activated by1.5% gluteraldehyde for best laccase immobilization. Scanning electron microscopy showed that beads with immobilized laccase on the surface were spherical in shape having large surface area. The immobilized laccase was found to be catalytically more vigorous and stable and it worked over a wide range of pH 3-6 and temperature 45-65 oC. Laccase immobilized with chitosan beads had 936 U/mL at pH 6 and 60 °C and improved thermal behavior. The chitosan beads immobilized laccase had higher Km (93 μM) and V-max 944 μM/min values as compared to its soluble counterpart, thus, demonstrating its higher catalytic efficiency. The kinetic and thermostability characteristics of chitosan beads immobilized laccase reflect that the enzyme has potential for use in industrial and environmental biotechnology.

Biography

Muhammad Asgher is the Chairman, Department of Biochemistry, University of Agriculture, Faisalabad. He graduated in 1985 from Gujranwala and got his MSc degree in 1988, Mphil in 1993 and PhD in 1998 in the subject of Biochemistry from University of Agriculture, Faisalabad, Pakistan. In 2002, he was awarded UNESCO Fellowship in Biotechnology and in 2004, a one year HEC Post-Doctoral Fellowship to work on production, purification and immobilization of industrial enzymes in University of Waterloo, Canada. In 2009, HEC awarded him Sabbatical Leave Fellowship to learn advanced enzyme immobilization techniques at University of Waterloo, Canada. After another 5 years he was awarded Sabbatical Research Fellowship by Biotechnology Lab. University of Waterloo, Canada for collaborative research and training on production and characterization of Biocomposites. He also has 2 national and 5 international Post-Graduate Research Training Courses to his credit. He joined the University of Agriculture, Faisalabad, Pakistan as a Lecturer of Biochemistry in 1990. Based on his outstanding academic performance, he was elevated as Assistant Professor in 1999, Associate Professor in 2004, Professor in 2007 and Professor TTS in 2010. He has been guiding the Postgraduate students in research and has so far produced 124 research students as Major Supervisor, including 10 PhD, 36 MPhil and 78 MSc students to provide trained manpower to industry and academia. As Researcher, he focused his investigations on indigenous production, purification, characterization and immobilization of microbial enzymes and their industrial applications. He has won and executed a number of research projects as PI and Co-PI. He has published the results of his research investigations in the form of 152 research publications in quality journals, 4 papers in refereed conference proceedings, 87 abstracts, 3 international book chapters and 9 popular articles. He has also produced patents for possible commercialization. Furthermore, he has presented his work in a number of national and international conferences. Based on his performance in teaching and research, he was awarded Better Incentives by the University during 2007 and 2008. He is also the recipient of Research Productivity Allowance/Award (RPA) by Pakistan Council for Science and Technology in the year 2008, 2010, 2011, 2012 and 2013 and his name has been included in Productive Scientists of Pakistan. As Member of Board of Studies of the Department, Faculty Board, Academic Council, Finance and Planning, Sports Board, Member/Chairman Unfair Means Committee, Finance Secretary Academic Staff Association, University Senate, Member Syndicate of the University, he has been actively contributing towards the development of curricula for various degree programs for improvement of academics, administration and planning and development of the university system. He has been Member of many professional societies, including American Chemical Society USA), American Society of Microbiology (USA), The Biochemical Society (UK), Chemical Society of Pakistan, Pakistan Society of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology and Society of Food Scientists and Technologists.

Email: mabajwapk@yahoo.com