Laccase Catalysis

The search for cost-effective and environmental benign practices for the production of bioactive compounds has gained considerable attention since last decade, due to increasing demand of eco-friendly processes. Many industries have started adopting routes for the development of green chemistry by employing enzymatic approaches to overcome the limitations of physico-chemical methods and environmental concerns. Laccase is one such enzyme which has gained considerable attention in recent years as a biocatalyst in organic synthesis. Laccases possess versatile biochemical properties and the reactions catalyzed by laccase require only molecular oxygen with concomitant release of water as a byproduct. They have been widely used for reactions such as dimerization, polymerization, coupling, and grafting reactions and for antibiotic modifications. This chapter summarizes the advances that have been made in developing technologies based on laccase mediated reactions in the field of medicine, agriculture, food, and pharmaceuticals.