Molecular characterization and overexpression of and from revealed their involvement in biodegradation of cotton stalk lignin.

Fungal secretory heme peroxidase (Class II POD) plays a significant role in biomass conversion due to its lignin-degrading activity. In this study, genome-wide identification and bioinformatics were performed to analyze peroxidases (s). A total of six manganese peroxidases (MnPs) and three versatile peroxidases (VPs) were obtained. Bioinformatics analysis and qRT-PCR showed that () and () could be involved in lignin degradation. Both and transgenetic fungi showed significantly increased lignin degradation of cotton stalks. H-NMR revealed that and may preferentially degrade S-lignin in cotton stalks and mainly break β--4' bond linkages and hydroxyl. These results support the possible utility of and in natural straw resources and development of sustainable energy.