*Article* **Evolutionary Implications of a Peroxidase with High Affinity for Cinnamyl Alcohols from** *Physcomitrium patens***, a Non-Vascular Plant**

**Teresa Martínez-Cortés 1, Federico Pomar <sup>1</sup> and Esther Novo-Uzal 2,\***


**Abstract:** *Physcomitrium (Physcomitrella) patens* is a bryophyte highly tolerant to different stresses, allowing survival when water supply is a limiting factor. This moss lacks a true vascular system, but it has evolved a primitive water-conducting system that contains lignin-like polyphenols. By means of a three-step protocol, including ammonium sulfate precipitation, adsorption chromatography on phenyl Sepharose and cationic exchange chromatography on SP Sepharose, we were able to purify and further characterize a novel class III peroxidase, PpaPrx19, upregulated upon salt and H2O2 treatments. This peroxidase, of a strongly basic nature, shows surprising homology to angiosperm peroxidases related to lignification, despite the lack of true lignins in *P. patens* cell walls. Moreover, PpaPrx19 shows catalytic and kinetic properties typical of angiosperm peroxidases involved in oxidation of monolignols, being able to efficiently use hydroxycinnamyl alcohols as substrates. Our results pinpoint the presence in *P. patens* of peroxidases that fulfill the requirements to be involved in the last step of lignin biosynthesis, predating the appearance of true lignin.

**Keywords:** *Physcomitrella*; hydroxycinnamyl alcohols; plant evolution; peroxidase; abiotic stress
