Bisphenol-A (BPA) is a primary monomer in polycarbonate plastics and epoxy resins. BPA may be released into the environment following its formation via hydrolysis of ester bonds of the polymers. It has been detected in human plasma, placenta, amniotic fluid, amniotic chord, urine and saliva. BPA disrupts normal cell function by acting as an estrogen agonist as well as an androgen antagonist. The present study was carried out to investigate whether BPA can bind to human glucocorticoid receptor (GR) and elucidate its mode of interaction. BPA has been successfully docked in silico into the ligand binding site of GR using the program Discovery Studio 2.0. The structure has been compared with other agonist and antagonist bound structures of GR. It is found that the mode of interactions and binding energy of BPA were similar to that of DEXA and cortisol, two known agonists of GR. This reveals that BPA can bind to GR as an agonist. Hence, BPA may produce biological effects similar to that produced by glucocorticoids.

Industrialization causes the generation of phenolic pollutants in the environment. The ability of laccases to oxidize phenolic compounds and reduce molecular oxygen to water has led to intensive studies on these enzymes. Although salt-tolerant fungi are potential sources of enzymes for industrial applications, they have been inadequately explored for laccase production. This study describes the isolation of a salt- and phenol-tolerant strain of Trichoderma sp. with the ability to produce laccase, and thus with the potential for industrial applications. The coconut husk retting ground in the estuaries of Kerala, India, a saline environment highly polluted with phenolic compounds, was selected for isolating the fungus. Enhanced laccase production was observed at 5-10 ppt salinity. The organism could grow even at 30 ppt salinity with reduced biomass production and laccase secretion. The optimum concentration of different phenolic compounds for enhanced laccase secretion ranged between 20 and 80 mg L(-1) . As the concentration of phenolic compounds increased beyond 200 mg L(-1) , the enzyme activity decreased and was completely inhibited at 800 mg L(-1) . The tolerance of Trichoderma viride Pers. NFCCI-2745 to salinity and various phenolic compounds can be utilized in the bioremediation of highly saline and phenolic compound-rich industrial effluents.

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In thermal printing, bisphenol A (BPA) functions chemically as a developer and reacts with white or colorless dyes in the presence of heat, converting them to a dark color. BPA can transfer readily to skin in small amounts from these papers. Its damage to environment and organisms has caused an extensive concern. In the present study, thermal paper used at the local automated teller machine counters of India were analyzed for the presence of BPA, and the capability of the paper to produce estrogenicity were assessed using a yeast two-hybrid assay experimental system. The study also focused on eliminating the endocrine-disrupting properties with partially purified laccase from newly isolated ascomycete fungi. The results indicate that these papers can produce estrogen hormone-like effect on experimental systems. It should be noted that on a daily basis, tons of such receipts are being dumped in the environment. Estrogenic properties of thermal paper were effectively removed from the reaction mixture within 3 h of incubation with the partially purified enzyme. We propose the utilization of waste thermal paper as a cheap substrate for laccase production for a safer and cleaner environment.

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Fungal laccases are involved in a variety of physiological functions such as delignification, morphogenesis, and parasitism. In addition to these functions, we suggest that fungal laccases are involved in defense mechanisms. When the laccase secreting Trichoderma viride was grown in the presence of a range of microorganisms including bacteria and fungi, laccase secretion was enhanced in response to antagonistic organisms alone. In addition, growth of antagonistic microbes was restricted by the secreting fungi. Besides, our study for the first time shows the inability of the secreting fungi (T. viride) to compete with antagonistic organism when laccase activity is inhibited, further emphasizing its involvement in rendering a survival advantage to the secreting organism. When laccase inhibitor was added to the media, the zone of inhibition exerted by the antagonist organism was more pronounced and consequently growth of T. viride was significantly restricted. Based on these observations we accentuate that, laccase plays an important role in defense mechanism and provides endurance to the organism when encountered with an antagonistic organism in its surrounding.

The biotreatment of industrial effluents that contain heavy metals, detergents and metal chelating agents represents a great concern to industries as these compounds are either toxic to microbes or they act as noncompetitive inhibitors/denaturing agents for several enzymes. So, it is essential to know the effect of various agents usually present in the treatment plant on activity of the enzyme, for extending its applications in in situ treatment processes. This study describes the immobilization conditions of laccase and analysis of the sensitivity of immobilized laccase from Trichoderma viride Pers NFCCI-2745 to heavy metals, detergent and copper chelating agents. The concentrations and combinations of cations influenced the activity of immobilized enzyme and its yield. The immobilized Cu-Ba alginate enzyme showed comparatively higher activity compared to the Cu-alginate enzyme. Most of the metal ions tested enhanced laccase activity at lower concentration. Immobilized laccase retained more than 70 % of its activity even in the presence of 20 mM copper chelating agents like EDTA and sodium thioglycolic acid. Sodium azide, on the other hand, inhibited 80 % of the activity of all the beads even at a very low concentration of 0.5 mM. Cu-Ba and Cu-Ni alginate enzyme exhibited comparatively higher tolerance than Cualginate beads to EDTA and sodium thioglycolate. Tween 20 and cetyl trimethyl ammonium bromide significantly increased the activity of all the beads. These properties of the immobilized laccase may be aptly considered and suitably utilized in treating phenolic effluents that may contain heavy metals, detergents and certain copper chelating agents which may otherwise pose a threat to enzymatic activity.