Soil bacterium's enzyme breaks down tough plant compounds
Soil Health
The fallen leaves and woody debris breaking down in your compost pile or garden beds owe a lot to enzymes like this one, made by bacteria that recycle nature's toughest plant materials.
Deep in soil, tiny bacteria produce powerful enzymes called laccases that chew through lignin, the rigid stuff that makes wood and plant stems sturdy. This particular bacterium, Streptomyces coelicolor, is a well-studied soil dweller whose laccase enzyme is of interest for breaking down plant waste and even cleaning up pollutants.
Key Findings
1
Streptomyces coelicolor, a soil-dwelling bacterium, produces a laccase enzyme capable of oxidizing complex organic compounds.
2
Laccase enzymes from this bacterium are of interest for breaking down lignin, a structural component of plant cell walls.
3
Such bacterial laccases have potential applications in bioremediation and industrial processing of plant-derived materials.
chevron_right
Technical Summary
Scientists studied an enzyme called laccase made by a common soil bacterium, which helps break down tough organic compounds like lignin found in plant material and wood.
Composting is the controlled decomposition of organic materials—such as plant waste, food scraps, and manure—into a nutrient-rich amendment that improves soil fertility and structure. For plant science, compost is significant because it enhances soil microbial communities, increases nutrient