And the Winner Is …ESF Names Manganese Peroxidase Named 2025 Enzyme of the Year12/22/2025Manganese peroxidase, an enzyme secreted by fungi to degrade wood and other tough materials in their environment, has been crowned the coolest enzyme, thus taking the title Enzyme of the Year at the SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry (ESF).imageThree women in front of a poster. One woman is sitting, all are wearing medals for winning best enzyme.Pictured from left, Maeve Stone, Abigail Geschwindt, Vincent Zhao and their winning poster for the enzyme manganese peroxidase.