`Yellow' laccase of Panus tigrinus oxidizes non‐phenolic substrates without electron‐transfer mediators

Yellow and blue forms of laccase from solid-state and submerged cultures of Panus tigrinus were isolated. Both laccases had similar molecular masses and specific activity, but yellow laccase had no 'blue' maximum in the absorption spectrum. Blue laccase oxidized veratryl alcohol and a nonphenolic dimeric lignin model compound only in the presence of 2,2'-azino-bis-(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) as electron-transfer mediator. Yellow laccase catalyzed these reactions without any additional compounds. It is supposed that yellow laccase is formed as a result of blue laccase modification by products of lignin degradation. These compounds might play a role of natural electron-transfer mediators for the oxidation of non-phenolic substances, catalyzed by yellow laccase.