Extracellular Laccase Activity of Bacteria of the Genera Azospirillum and Niveispirillum

The ability to produce extracellular laccase by strains of Azospirillum (A. brasilense Sp7, Sp107, Sp245, SR80, A. lipoferum SR42, Sp59b, A. picis TAR-3, A. tiophilum Bv-S, and A. amazonense Am) and Niveispirillum (N. irakense KBC1 and N. irakense KA3) has been established. Induction of enzyme activity by a number of aromatic compounds and copper ions has been shown. A homogeneous preparation of the extracellular laccase of A. brasilense Sp245 strain has been isolated and partially characterized for the first time.