Comprehensive Analysis of Catalytic Characteristics and Molecular Mechanisms in Mutant Trametes versicolor Strains with Enhanced Laccase Activities

The commercial potential of Trametes versicolor laccases in the degradation of various persistent contaminants is significant. Despite numerous attempts through rational metabolic engineering to enhance the properties of laccases, the outcomes have proven unsatisfactory for practical implementation. The present study successfully generated two novel mutants, namely, TA-04 and TA-15, derived from Trametes versicolor ATCC20869, utilizing atmospheric and room temperature plasma (ARTP). The laccase activities of TA-04 and TA-15 showed a significant increase to 136.507 ± 4.827 U/mg DCW and 153.804 ± 6.884 U/mg DCW, respectively, which were 1.201 and 1.354 times than that of the original strain. The laccase activities of the mutant strains TA-04 and TA-15 surpassed that of the original strain by 10.372% and 18.914%, respectively, at a higher pH level of five. Sequencing analysis of TA-04 and TA-15 revealed that several alternative amino acids within their active regions may enhance their catalytic characteristics under a higher temperature and pH condition. This study employed ARTP mutagenesis to propose two highly efficient microbial mutants derived from Trametes versicolor ATCC20869, exhibiting enhanced laccase activities. These mutants hold promising potential for the degradation of diverse environmental pollutants.