The aim of this study was to identify and characterize new Flammulina velutipes laccases from its whole-genome sequence. Of the 15 putative laccase genes detected in the F. velutipes genome, four new laccase genes (fvLac-1, fvLac-2, fvLac3, and fvLac-4) were found to contain four complete copper-binding regions (ten histidine residues and one cysteine residue) and four cysteine residues involved in forming disulfide bridges. fvLac-1, fvLac-2, fvLac3, and fvLac-4, encoding proteins consisting of 516, 518, 515, and 533 amino acid residues, respectively. Potential N-glycosylationsites(Asn-Xaa-Ser/Thr) were identified in the cDNA sequence of fvLac-1(Asn-454), fvLac-2(Asn- 437andAsn-455), fvLac-3(Asn-111andAsn-237), and fvLac4 (Asn-402andAsn-457). In addition, the first 19–20 amino acid residues of these proteins were predicted to comprise signal peptides. Laccase activity assays and reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction(RT-PCR) analyses clearly reveal that CuSO4 affects the induction and the transcription level of these laccase genes.

• Hong-Il Kim(Department of Biomedical Chemistry, Konkuk University, Chungju, Korea)
• O-Chul Kwon(Department of Biomedical Chemistry, Konkuk University, Chungju, Korea)
• Won-Sik Kong(Mushroom Research Division, National Institute of Horticultural and Herbal Science, Rural Development Administration, Korea)
• Chang-Soo Lee(Department of Biomedical Chemistry, Konkuk University, Chungju, Korea)
• Young-Jin Park(Department of Biomedical Chemistry, Konkuk University, Chungju, Korea)