Saturation mutagenesis to improve the degradation of azo dyes by versatile peroxidase and application in form of VP-coated yeast cell walls

•Azo dyes are toxic and carcinogenic synthetic pigments which accumulate as pollutants.•Versatile peroxidase is an oxidoreductase with a broad substrate spectrum.•Mutations in peroxidase catalytic Trp environment improved azo dyes degradation.•Expression on yeast cell surface and cell lysis allowed reusability of biocatalyst.