biostudies-literatureZhou YNational Key R&D Program of ChinaNational Key R&D Program of ChinaAgricultural Key-scientific and Core-technological Project of Shaanxi ProvinceShaanxi Science and Technology Innovation Team ProjectXianyang City Major Science and Technology Innovation Project6411https://www.ebi.ac.uk/biostudies/studies/S-EPMC12909831biostudies-literatureUnknown16(1)Polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) is a widely used industrial polymer, and its persistence in the environment poses significant challenges, making the study of its biodegradation both a major production concern and an important scientific issue. This study aimed to elucidate the enzymatic mechanisms of PVA biodegradation by identifying and characterizing a novel oxidized polyvinyl alcohol hydrolase (OPH) from Stenotrophomonas rhizophila QL-P4, and to investigate its evolutionary divergence across microbial species. Through genomic analysis, we identified a gene, BAY15_0160 (996 bp), encoding a putative OPH. Its essential role in PVA degradation was confirmed via gene deletion, overexpression, and functional complementation assays. Site-directed mutagenesis demonstrated that the signal peptide and acScientific reportsMechanism and evolutionary divergence of a novel oxidized polyvinyl alcohol hydrolase in Stenotrophomonas rhizophila QL-P4.PMC12909831L2023-ZDKJ-CYJQ-NY-0022024YFD17005002025RS-CXTD-0322025NYGG011Yao YFeng JJia CHuang KHuang LZhou YChen SBold NWei YQiu LfalseMechanism and evolutionary divergence of a novel oxidized polyvinyl alcohol hydrolase in Stenotrophomonas rhizophila QL-P4.Polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) is a widely used industrial polymer, and its persistence in the environment poses significant challenges, making the study of its biodegradation both a major production concern and an important scientific issue. This study aimed to elucidate the enzymatic mechanisms of PVA biodegradation by identifying and characterizing a novel oxidized polyvinyl alcohol hydrolase (OPH) from Stenotrophomonas rhizophila QL-P4, and to investigate its evolutionary divergence across microbial species. Through genomic analysis, we identified a gene, BAY15_0160 (996 bp), encoding a putative OPH. Its essential role in PVA degradation was confirmed via gene deletion, overexpression, and functional complementation assays. Site-directed mutagenesis demonstrated that the signal peptide and ac2026-01-01T00:00:00Z2026 Jan2026-07-16T05:15:31.842Z2026-07-09T13:10:01.108ZS-EPMC129098314159330310.1038/s41598-026-37715-4