We screened for laccase from a marine metagenomic library and obtained a bacterial laccase Lac15 and studied its decolorization ability. Using synthetic azo dyes and anthraquinonic dyes as substrates, we investigated the dye decolorization ability of recombinant Lac15 (rLac15). The purified rLac15 had better decolorization ability towards the azo dyes than the anthraquinonic dyes. When incubated at 45 degrees C and pH 8.5 for 1 h with methylsyringate as the mediator, 20 U/L of rLac15 could decolorize 95% of 100 micromol/L Acid Red 6B (AR-6B), 93% of Reactive Blue 194 (M-2GE), 76% of Reactive Brilliant Orange (K-7R) and 66% of Reactive Blue 171 (KE-R). The decolorization ability of rLac15 decreased with the dye concentration increasing. However, more than 80% of M-2GE and AR-6B were degraded even when the dye concentration was up to 200 micromol/L. At room temperature, rLac51 exhibited significant decolorization ability, with 96% of AR-6B, 86% of M-2GE, 66% of K-7R and 66% of KE-Rdegraded within 24 h at 25 degrees C. rLac15 has the potential of industrial applications.