Filamentous, saprobic basidiomycetes colonizing wood
are physiologically unique fungi capable for several
biochemical strategies for degradation of the wood
xylem and plant lignocellulosic matter. The accumulating
genomic sequence data and current comparative
genomic, transcriptomic and proteomic data on wooddecaying
fungi point to the growing significance of the
secreted oxidoreductases, mainly the heme-containing
class II lignin-modifying peroxidases (LMPs: LIPs, MNPs,
hMNPs, VPs), in particular in the so-called white rot
decay of wood. This is given further evidence by the
lack of the LMP-encoding enzyme genes in the cellulose-
decaying brown rot basidiomycetes, and in the
non-lignin decomposing saprobic and ectomycorrhizal
species.