Vanillyl alcohol oxidase from Diplodia corticola: Residues Ala420 and Glu466 allow for efficient catalysis of syringyl derivatives.

Vanillyl alcohol oxidases (VAOs) belong to the 4-phenol oxidases family and are found predominantly in lignin-degrading ascomycetes. Systematical investigation of the enzyme family at the sequence level resulted in discovery and characterization of the second recombinantly produced VAO member, DcVAO, from Diplodia corticola. Remarkably high activities for 2,6-substituted substrates like 4-allyl-2,6-dimethoxy-phenol (3.