biostudies-literatureLiu SGraduate Education Quailty Enhancement Project of Anhui ProvinceNational Natural Science Foundation of ChinaJoint Funds of the National Natural Science Foundation of Chinae0197125https://www.ebi.ac.uk/biostudies/studies/S-EPMC12915358biostudies-literatureUnknown92(2)Laccases are present as isozymes in white-rot fungi, yet their evolutionary history and functional role in lignin degradation remain controversial. <i>Trametes hirsuta</i>, a ubiquitous fungus in forest ecosystems, can completely break down cellulose, hemicellulose, and lignin in wood. Based on bioinformatic and biochemical characterization, we have shown that five laccase isozyme genes (<i>lacA-E</i>) in <i>Trametes hirsuta</i> AH28-2 were derived from a single ancestral laccase gene, <i>lacF</i>, with <i>lacA</i> and <i>lacB</i> originating from disparate evolutionary branches. The syringyl-type (S-type) lignin model compounds significantly induced the expression of <i>lacA-lacE</i> at both transcriptional and expression levels. Furthermore, <i>in vitro</i> and <i>in vivo</i> analyses deApplied and environmental microbiologyAdaptive evolution of Agaricomycetes laccases follows wood lignin diversification in plants.PMC12915358U22A20442323701332023xscx02432470122Liu JFang ZYin TWang CYu QZhang XZhou RXiao YLiu SfalseAdaptive evolution of Agaricomycetes laccases follows wood lignin diversification in plants.Laccases are present as isozymes in white-rot fungi, yet their evolutionary history and functional role in lignin degradation remain controversial. <i>Trametes hirsuta</i>, a ubiquitous fungus in forest ecosystems, can completely break down cellulose, hemicellulose, and lignin in wood. Based on bioinformatic and biochemical characterization, we have shown that five laccase isozyme genes (<i>lacA-E</i>) in <i>Trametes hirsuta</i> AH28-2 were derived from a single ancestral laccase gene, <i>lacF</i>, with <i>lacA</i> and <i>lacB</i> originating from disparate evolutionary branches. The syringyl-type (S-type) lignin model compounds significantly induced the expression of <i>lacA-lacE</i> at both transcriptional and expression levels. Furthermore, <i>in vitro</i> and <i>in vivo</i> analyses de2026-01-01T00:00:00Z2026 Feb2026-07-16T06:32:42.653Z2026-07-09T10:39:33.92ZS-EPMC129153584152814510.1128/aem.01971-25