Laccase from Melanocarpus albomyces binds effectively to cellulose

A laccase from the thermophilic fungus Melanocarpus albomyces was shown to bind to softwood and pure microcrystalline cellulose. The binding isotherm fitted well the Langmuir type one‐site binding model. The adsorption parameters indicated that M. albomyces laccase binds with high affinity to cellulose with a relatively low maximum binding capacity, as compared to the values for various cellulases. The binding was shown to be reversible and not influenced by non‐specific protein or 0.1–0.5 M Na₂SO₄. No binding was detected with laccases from Trametes hirsuta or Mauginiella sp., which suggests that binding to cellulose is typical for only some laccases.