1
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Ong A, Teo JYQ, Lim JYC. Interfacial Reactions in Chemical Recycling and Upcycling of Plastics. ACS APPLIED MATERIALS & INTERFACES 2024; 16:46975-46987. [PMID: 39214617 PMCID: PMC11403610 DOI: 10.1021/acsami.4c09315] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 09/04/2024]
Abstract
Depolymerization of plastics is a leading strategy to combat the escalating global plastic waste crisis through chemical recycling, upcycling, and remediation of micro-/nanoplastics. However, critical processes necessary for polymer chain scission, occurring at the polymer-catalyst or polymer-fluid interfaces, remain largely overlooked. Herein, we spotlight the importance of understanding these interfacial chemical processes as a critical necessity for optimizing kinetics and reactivity in plastics recycling and upcycling, controlling reaction outcomes, product distributions, as well as improving the environmental sustainability of these processes. Several examples are highlighted in heterogeneous processes such as hydrogenation over solid catalysts, reaction of plastics in immiscible media, and biocatalysis. Ultimately, judicious exploitation of interfacial reactivity has practical implications in developing practical, robust, and cost-effective processes to reduce plastic waste and enable a viable post-use circular plastics economy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Albert Ong
- Institute of Materials Research and Engineering (IMRE), Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR), 2 Fusionopolis Way, Innovis #08-03, Singapore 138634, Republic of Singapore
| | - Jerald Y Q Teo
- Institute of Materials Research and Engineering (IMRE), Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR), 2 Fusionopolis Way, Innovis #08-03, Singapore 138634, Republic of Singapore
| | - Jason Y C Lim
- Institute of Materials Research and Engineering (IMRE), Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR), 2 Fusionopolis Way, Innovis #08-03, Singapore 138634, Republic of Singapore
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering, National University of Singapore (NUS), 9 Engineering Drive 1, Singapore 117576, Singapore
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2
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Kawai F, Iizuka R, Kawabata T. Engineered polyethylene terephthalate hydrolases: perspectives and limits. Appl Microbiol Biotechnol 2024; 108:404. [PMID: 38953996 PMCID: PMC11219463 DOI: 10.1007/s00253-024-13222-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/09/2024] [Revised: 06/03/2024] [Accepted: 06/04/2024] [Indexed: 07/04/2024]
Abstract
Polyethylene terephthalate (PET) is a major component of plastic waste. Enzymatic PET hydrolysis is the most ecofriendly recycling technology. The biorecycling of PET waste requires the complete depolymerization of PET to terephthalate and ethylene glycol. The history of enzymatic PET depolymerization has revealed two critical issues for the industrial depolymerization of PET: industrially available PET hydrolases and pretreatment of PET waste to make it susceptible to full enzymatic hydrolysis. As none of the wild-type enzymes can satisfy the requirements for industrialization, various mutational improvements have been performed, through classical technology to state-of-the-art computational/machine-learning technology. Recent engineering studies on PET hydrolases have brought a new insight that flexibility of the substrate-binding groove may improve the efficiency of PET hydrolysis while maintaining sufficient thermostability, although the previous studies focused only on enzymatic thermostability above the glass transition temperature of PET. Industrial biorecycling of PET waste is scheduled to be implemented, using micronized amorphous PET. Next stage must be the development of PET hydrolases that can efficiently degrade crystalline parts of PET and expansion of target PET materials, not only bottles but also textiles, packages, and microplastics. This review discusses the current status of PET hydrolases, their potential applications, and their profespectal goals. KEY POINTS: • PET hydrolases must be thermophilic, but their operation must be below 70 °C • Classical and state-of-the-art engineering approaches are useful for PET hydrolases • Enzyme activity on crystalline PET is most expected for future PET biorecycling.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fusako Kawai
- Graduate School of Environmental and Life Sciences, Okayama University, 1-1-1 Tsushima-Naka, Kita-Ku, Okayama, 700-8530, Japan.
| | - Ryo Iizuka
- Graduate School of Science, The University of Tokyo, 7-3-1 Hongo, Bunkyo-Ku, Tokyo, 113-0033, Japan
| | - Takeshi Kawabata
- Graduate School of Information Sciences, Tohoku University, Aoba 6-3-09, Aoba-ku, Sendai, Miyagi, 980-8579, Japan
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3
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Kim DW, Lim ES, Lee GH, Son HF, Sung C, Jung JH, Park HJ, Gong G, Ko JK, Um Y, Han SO, Ahn JH. Biodegradation of oxidized low density polyethylene by Pelosinus fermentans lipase. BIORESOURCE TECHNOLOGY 2024; 403:130871. [PMID: 38782190 DOI: 10.1016/j.biortech.2024.130871] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/13/2024] [Revised: 04/28/2024] [Accepted: 05/20/2024] [Indexed: 05/25/2024]
Abstract
Polyethylene (PE) exhibits high resistance to degradation, contributing to plastic pollution. PE discarded into the environment is photo-oxidized by sunlight and oxygen. In this study, a key enzyme capable of degrading oxidized PE is reported for the first time. Twenty different enzymes from various lipase families were evaluated for hydrolytic activity using substrates mimicking oxidized PE. Among them, Pelosinus fermentans lipase 1 (PFL1) specifically cleaved the ester bonds within the oxidized carbon-carbon backbone. Moreover, PFL1 (6 μM) degraded oxidized PE film, reducing the weight average and number average molecular weights by 44.6 and 11.3 %, respectively, within five days. Finally, structural analysis and molecular docking simulations were performed to elucidate the degradation mechanism of PFL1. The oxidized PE-degrading enzyme reported here will provide the groundwork for advancing PE waste treatment technology and for engineering microbes to repurpose PE waste into valuable chemicals.
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Affiliation(s)
- Do-Wook Kim
- Clean Energy Research Center, Korea Institute of Science and Technology, Seoul 02792, Republic of Korea
| | - Eui Seok Lim
- Clean Energy Research Center, Korea Institute of Science and Technology, Seoul 02792, Republic of Korea; Department of Biotechnology, Korea University, Seoul 02841, Republic of Korea
| | - Ga Hyun Lee
- Clean Energy Research Center, Korea Institute of Science and Technology, Seoul 02792, Republic of Korea; Department of Biotechnology, Korea University, Seoul 02841, Republic of Korea
| | - Hyeoncheol Francis Son
- Clean Energy Research Center, Korea Institute of Science and Technology, Seoul 02792, Republic of Korea
| | - Changmin Sung
- Doping Control Center, Korea Institute of Science and Technology, Seoul 02792, Republic of Korea
| | - Jong-Hyun Jung
- Radiation Biotechnology Division, Korea Atomic Energy Research Institute, Jeongeup 56212, Republic of Korea
| | - Hyun June Park
- Department of Biotechnology, Duksung Women's University, Seoul 01369, Republic of Korea
| | - Gyeongtaek Gong
- Clean Energy Research Center, Korea Institute of Science and Technology, Seoul 02792, Republic of Korea; Division of Energy and Environment Technology, KIST School, University of Science and Technology (UST), Daejeon 34113, Republic of Korea
| | - Ja Kyong Ko
- Clean Energy Research Center, Korea Institute of Science and Technology, Seoul 02792, Republic of Korea; Division of Energy and Environment Technology, KIST School, University of Science and Technology (UST), Daejeon 34113, Republic of Korea
| | - Youngsoon Um
- Clean Energy Research Center, Korea Institute of Science and Technology, Seoul 02792, Republic of Korea; Division of Energy and Environment Technology, KIST School, University of Science and Technology (UST), Daejeon 34113, Republic of Korea
| | - Sung Ok Han
- Department of Biotechnology, Korea University, Seoul 02841, Republic of Korea
| | - Jung Ho Ahn
- Clean Energy Research Center, Korea Institute of Science and Technology, Seoul 02792, Republic of Korea; Division of Energy and Environment Technology, KIST School, University of Science and Technology (UST), Daejeon 34113, Republic of Korea.
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4
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Cannon JA, Zhou Y, Qualey LT, Reynolds TB. Surface-associated residues in subtilisins contribute to poly-L-lactic acid depolymerization via enzyme adsorption. Microb Biotechnol 2024; 17:e14473. [PMID: 38877615 PMCID: PMC11178483 DOI: 10.1111/1751-7915.14473] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/11/2023] [Revised: 03/22/2024] [Accepted: 04/14/2024] [Indexed: 06/16/2024] Open
Abstract
Poly-L-lactic acid (PLLA) is currently the most abundant bioplastic; however, limited environmental biodegradability and few recycling options diminish its value as a biodegradable commodity. Enzymatic recycling is one strategy for ensuring circularity of PLLA, but this approach requires a thorough understanding of enzymatic mechanisms and protein engineering strategies to enhance activity. In this study, we engineer PLLA depolymerizing subtilisin enzymes originating from Bacillus species to elucidate the molecular mechanisms dictating their PLLA depolymerization activity and to improve their function. The surface-associated amino acids of two closely related subtilisin homologues originating from Bacillus subtilis (BsAprE) and Bacillus pumilus (BpAprE) were compared, as they were previously engineered to have nearly identical active sites, but still varied greatly in PLLA depolymerizing activity. Further analysis identified several surface-associated amino acids in BpAprE that lead to enhanced PLLA depolymerization activity when engineered into BsAprE. In silico protein modelling demonstrated increased enzyme surface hydrophobicity in engineered BsAprE variants and revealed a structural motif favoured for PLLA depolymerization. Experimental evidence suggests that increases in activity are associated with enhanced polymer binding as opposed to substrate specificity. These data highlight enzyme adsorption as a key factor in PLLA depolymerization by subtilisins.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jordan A. Cannon
- Department of MicrobiologyUniversity of Tennessee at KnoxvilleKnoxvilleTennesseeUSA
| | - Yue Zhou
- Department of MicrobiologyUniversity of Tennessee at KnoxvilleKnoxvilleTennesseeUSA
| | - Luke T. Qualey
- Department of MicrobiologyUniversity of Tennessee at KnoxvilleKnoxvilleTennesseeUSA
| | - Todd B. Reynolds
- Department of MicrobiologyUniversity of Tennessee at KnoxvilleKnoxvilleTennesseeUSA
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5
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Shi C, Quinn EC, Diment WT, Chen EYX. Recyclable and (Bio)degradable Polyesters in a Circular Plastics Economy. Chem Rev 2024; 124:4393-4478. [PMID: 38518259 DOI: 10.1021/acs.chemrev.3c00848] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/24/2024]
Abstract
Polyesters carrying polar main-chain ester linkages exhibit distinct material properties for diverse applications and thus play an important role in today's plastics economy. It is anticipated that they will play an even greater role in tomorrow's circular plastics economy that focuses on sustainability, thanks to the abundant availability of their biosourced building blocks and the presence of the main-chain ester bonds that can be chemically or biologically cleaved on demand by multiple methods and thus bring about more desired end-of-life plastic waste management options. Because of this potential and promise, there have been intense research activities directed at addressing recycling, upcycling or biodegradation of existing legacy polyesters, designing their biorenewable alternatives, and redesigning future polyesters with intrinsic chemical recyclability and tailored performance that can rival today's commodity plastics that are either petroleum based and/or hard to recycle. This review captures these exciting recent developments and outlines future challenges and opportunities. Case studies on the legacy polyesters, poly(lactic acid), poly(3-hydroxyalkanoate)s, poly(ethylene terephthalate), poly(butylene succinate), and poly(butylene-adipate terephthalate), are presented, and emerging chemically recyclable polyesters are comprehensively reviewed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Changxia Shi
- Department of Chemistry, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, Colorado 80523, United States
| | - Ethan C Quinn
- Department of Chemistry, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, Colorado 80523, United States
| | - Wilfred T Diment
- Department of Chemistry, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, Colorado 80523, United States
| | - Eugene Y-X Chen
- Department of Chemistry, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, Colorado 80523, United States
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6
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Choi J, Kim H, Ahn YR, Kim M, Yu S, Kim N, Lim SY, Park JA, Ha SJ, Lim KS, Kim HO. Recent advances in microbial and enzymatic engineering for the biodegradation of micro- and nanoplastics. RSC Adv 2024; 14:9943-9966. [PMID: 38528920 PMCID: PMC10961967 DOI: 10.1039/d4ra00844h] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/02/2024] [Accepted: 03/19/2024] [Indexed: 03/27/2024] Open
Abstract
This review examines the escalating issue of plastic pollution, specifically highlighting the detrimental effects on the environment and human health caused by microplastics and nanoplastics. The extensive use of synthetic polymers such as polyethylene (PE), polyethylene terephthalate (PET), and polystyrene (PS) has raised significant environmental concerns because of their long-lasting and non-degradable characteristics. This review delves into the role of enzymatic and microbial strategies in breaking down these polymers, showcasing recent advancements in the field. The intricacies of enzymatic degradation are thoroughly examined, including the effectiveness of enzymes such as PETase and MHETase, as well as the contribution of microbial pathways in breaking down resilient polymers into more benign substances. The paper also discusses the impact of chemical composition on plastic degradation kinetics and emphasizes the need for an approach to managing the environmental impact of synthetic polymers. The review highlights the significance of comprehending the physical characteristics and long-term impacts of micro- and nanoplastics in different ecosystems. Furthermore, it points out the environmental and health consequences of these contaminants, such as their ability to cause cancer and interfere with the endocrine system. The paper emphasizes the need for advanced analytical methods and effective strategies for enzymatic degradation, as well as continued research and development in this area. This review highlights the crucial role of enzymatic and microbial strategies in addressing plastic pollution and proposes methods to create effective and environmentally friendly solutions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jaewon Choi
- Division of Chemical Engineering and Bioengineering, College of Art, Culture and Engineering, Kangwon National University Chuncheon Korea
- Department of Smart Health Science and Technology, Kangwon National University Chuncheon Korea
| | - Hongbin Kim
- Division of Chemical Engineering and Bioengineering, College of Art, Culture and Engineering, Kangwon National University Chuncheon Korea
- Department of Smart Health Science and Technology, Kangwon National University Chuncheon Korea
| | - Yu-Rim Ahn
- Division of Chemical Engineering and Bioengineering, College of Art, Culture and Engineering, Kangwon National University Chuncheon Korea
- Department of Smart Health Science and Technology, Kangwon National University Chuncheon Korea
| | - Minse Kim
- Division of Chemical Engineering and Bioengineering, College of Art, Culture and Engineering, Kangwon National University Chuncheon Korea
- Department of Smart Health Science and Technology, Kangwon National University Chuncheon Korea
| | - Seona Yu
- Division of Chemical Engineering and Bioengineering, College of Art, Culture and Engineering, Kangwon National University Chuncheon Korea
- Department of Smart Health Science and Technology, Kangwon National University Chuncheon Korea
| | - Nanhyeon Kim
- Division of Chemical Engineering and Bioengineering, College of Art, Culture and Engineering, Kangwon National University Chuncheon Korea
- Department of Smart Health Science and Technology, Kangwon National University Chuncheon Korea
| | - Su Yeon Lim
- Division of Chemical Engineering and Bioengineering, College of Art, Culture and Engineering, Kangwon National University Chuncheon Korea
- Department of Smart Health Science and Technology, Kangwon National University Chuncheon Korea
| | - Jeong-Ann Park
- Department of Environmental Engineering, Kangwon National University Chuncheon 24341 Republic of Korea
| | - Suk-Jin Ha
- Division of Chemical Engineering and Bioengineering, College of Art, Culture and Engineering, Kangwon National University Chuncheon Korea
- Department of Smart Health Science and Technology, Kangwon National University Chuncheon Korea
| | - Kwang Suk Lim
- Division of Chemical Engineering and Bioengineering, College of Art, Culture and Engineering, Kangwon National University Chuncheon Korea
- Department of Smart Health Science and Technology, Kangwon National University Chuncheon Korea
| | - Hyun-Ouk Kim
- Division of Chemical Engineering and Bioengineering, College of Art, Culture and Engineering, Kangwon National University Chuncheon Korea
- Department of Smart Health Science and Technology, Kangwon National University Chuncheon Korea
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7
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Barclay A, Acharya KR. Engineering Plastic Eating Enzymes Using Structural Biology. Biomolecules 2023; 13:1407. [PMID: 37759807 PMCID: PMC10526444 DOI: 10.3390/biom13091407] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/01/2023] [Revised: 09/14/2023] [Accepted: 09/15/2023] [Indexed: 09/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Plastic pollution has emerged as a significant environmental concern in recent years and has prompted the exploration of innovative biotechnological solutions to mitigate plastic's negative impact. The discovery of enzymes capable of degrading specific types of plastics holds promise as a potential solution. However, challenges with efficiency, industrial scalability, and the diverse range of the plastic waste in question, have hindered their widespread application. Structural biology provides valuable insights into the intricate interactions between enzymes and plastic materials at an atomic level, and a deeper understanding of their underlying mechanisms is essential to harness their potential to address the mounting plastic waste crisis. This review article examines the current biochemical and biophysical methods that may facilitate the development of enzymes capable of degrading polyethylene terephthalate (PET), one of the most extensively used plastics. It also discusses the challenges that must be addressed before substantial advancements can be achieved in using these enzymes as a solution to the plastic pollution problem.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - K. Ravi Acharya
- Department of Life Sciences, University of Bath, Claverton Down, Bath BA2 7AY, UK;
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Li A, Cui H, Sheng Y, Qiao J, Li X, Huang H. Global plastic upcycling during and after the COVID-19 pandemic: The status and perspective. JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL CHEMICAL ENGINEERING 2023; 11:110092. [PMID: 37200549 PMCID: PMC10167783 DOI: 10.1016/j.jece.2023.110092] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/07/2023] [Revised: 04/10/2023] [Accepted: 05/08/2023] [Indexed: 05/20/2023]
Abstract
Plastic pollution has become one of the most pressing environmental issues worldwide since the vast majority of post-consumer plastics are hard to degrade in the environment. The coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic had disrupted the previous effort of plastic pollution mitigation to a great extent due to the overflow of plastic-based medical waste. In the post-pandemic era, the remaining challenge is how to motivate global action towards a plastic circular economy. The need for one package of sustainable and systematic plastic upcycling approaches has never been greater to address such a challenge. In this review, we summarized the threat of plastic pollution during COVID-19 to public health and ecosystem. In order to solve the aforementioned challenges, we present a shifting concept, regeneration value from plastic waste, that provides four promising pathways to achieve a sustainable circular economy: 1) Increasing reusability and biodegradability of plastics; 2) Transforming plastic waste into high-value products by chemical approaches; 3) The closed-loop recycling can be promoted by biodegradation; 4) Involving renewable energy into plastic upcycling. Additionally, the joint efforts from different social perspectives are also encouraged to create the necessary economic and environmental impetus for a circular economy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anni Li
- School of Food Science and Pharmaceutical Engineering, Nanjing Normal University, Nanjing 210009, People's Republic of China
| | - Haiyang Cui
- RWTH Aachen University, Templergraben 55, 52062 Aachen, Germany
| | - Yijie Sheng
- School of Food Science and Pharmaceutical Engineering, Nanjing Normal University, Nanjing 210009, People's Republic of China
| | - Jie Qiao
- School of Food Science and Pharmaceutical Engineering, Nanjing Normal University, Nanjing 210009, People's Republic of China
| | - Xiujuan Li
- School of Food Science and Pharmaceutical Engineering, Nanjing Normal University, Nanjing 210009, People's Republic of China
| | - He Huang
- School of Food Science and Pharmaceutical Engineering, Nanjing Normal University, Nanjing 210009, People's Republic of China
- School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Nanjing Tech University, No. 30 South Puzhu Road, Nanjing 211816, People's Republic of China
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9
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Tournier V, Duquesne S, Guillamot F, Cramail H, Taton D, Marty A, André I. Enzymes' Power for Plastics Degradation. Chem Rev 2023; 123:5612-5701. [PMID: 36916764 DOI: 10.1021/acs.chemrev.2c00644] [Citation(s) in RCA: 74] [Impact Index Per Article: 74.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/16/2023]
Abstract
Plastics are everywhere in our modern way of living, and their production keeps increasing every year, causing major environmental concerns. Nowadays, the end-of-life management involves accumulation in landfills, incineration, and recycling to a lower extent. This ecological threat to the environment is inspiring alternative bio-based solutions for plastic waste treatment and recycling toward a circular economy. Over the past decade, considerable efforts have been made to degrade commodity plastics using biocatalytic approaches. Here, we provide a comprehensive review on the recent advances in enzyme-based biocatalysis and in the design of related biocatalytic processes to recycle or upcycle commodity plastics, including polyesters, polyamides, polyurethanes, and polyolefins. We also discuss scope and limitations, challenges, and opportunities of this field of research. An important message from this review is that polymer-assimilating enzymes are very likely part of the solution to reaching a circular plastic economy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vincent Tournier
- Carbios, Parc Cataroux-Bâtiment B80, 8 rue de la Grolière, 63100 Clermont-Ferrand, France
| | - Sophie Duquesne
- Toulouse Biotechnology Institute, TBI, Université de Toulouse, CNRS, INRAE, INSA, Toulouse, France, 135, avenue de Rangueil, F-31077 Toulouse Cedex 04, France
| | - Frédérique Guillamot
- Carbios, Parc Cataroux-Bâtiment B80, 8 rue de la Grolière, 63100 Clermont-Ferrand, France
| | - Henri Cramail
- Université Bordeaux, CNRS, Bordeaux INP, LCPO, 16 Avenue Pey-Berland, 33600 Pessac, France
| | - Daniel Taton
- Université Bordeaux, CNRS, Bordeaux INP, LCPO, 16 Avenue Pey-Berland, 33600 Pessac, France
| | - Alain Marty
- Carbios, Parc Cataroux-Bâtiment B80, 8 rue de la Grolière, 63100 Clermont-Ferrand, France
| | - Isabelle André
- Toulouse Biotechnology Institute, TBI, Université de Toulouse, CNRS, INRAE, INSA, Toulouse, France, 135, avenue de Rangueil, F-31077 Toulouse Cedex 04, France
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10
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Temporiti MEE, Nicola L, Nielsen E, Tosi S. Fungal Enzymes Involved in Plastics Biodegradation. Microorganisms 2022; 10:1180. [PMID: 35744698 PMCID: PMC9230134 DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms10061180] [Citation(s) in RCA: 43] [Impact Index Per Article: 21.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/09/2022] [Revised: 06/01/2022] [Accepted: 06/07/2022] [Indexed: 12/04/2022] Open
Abstract
Plastic pollution is a growing environmental problem, in part due to the extremely stable and durable nature of this polymer. As recycling does not provide a complete solution, research has been focusing on alternative ways of degrading plastic. Fungi provide a wide array of enzymes specialized in the degradation of recalcitrant substances and are very promising candidates in the field of plastic degradation. This review examines the present literature for different fungal enzymes involved in plastic degradation, describing their characteristics, efficacy and biotechnological applications. Fungal laccases and peroxidases, generally used by fungi to degrade lignin, show good results in degrading polyethylene (PE) and polyvinyl chloride (PVC), while esterases such as cutinases and lipases were successfully used to degrade polyethylene terephthalate (PET) and polyurethane (PUR). Good results were also obtained on PUR by fungal proteases and ureases. All these enzymes were isolated from many different fungi, from both Basidiomycetes and Ascomycetes, and have shown remarkable efficiency in plastic biodegradation under laboratory conditions. Therefore, future research should focus on the interactions between the genes, proteins, metabolites and environmental conditions involved in the processes. Further steps such as the improvement in catalytic efficiency and genetic engineering could lead these enzymes to become biotechnological applications in the field of plastic degradation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marta Elisabetta Eleonora Temporiti
- Laboratory of Mycology, Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences, Università degli Studi di Pavia, Via S. Epifanio 14, 27100 Pavia, Italy; (L.N.); (S.T.)
| | - Lidia Nicola
- Laboratory of Mycology, Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences, Università degli Studi di Pavia, Via S. Epifanio 14, 27100 Pavia, Italy; (L.N.); (S.T.)
| | - Erik Nielsen
- Department of Biology and Biotechnology, Università degli Studi di Pavia, Via Ferrata 9, 27100 Pavia, Italy;
| | - Solveig Tosi
- Laboratory of Mycology, Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences, Università degli Studi di Pavia, Via S. Epifanio 14, 27100 Pavia, Italy; (L.N.); (S.T.)
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11
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Gomes M, Rondelez Y, Leibler L. Lessons from Biomass Valorization for Improving Plastic-Recycling Enzymes. Annu Rev Chem Biomol Eng 2022; 13:457-479. [PMID: 35378043 DOI: 10.1146/annurev-chembioeng-092120-091054] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Abstract
Synthetic polymers such as plastics exhibit numerous advantageous properties that have made them essential components of our daily lives, with plastic production doubling every 15 years. The relatively low cost of petroleum-based polymers encourages their single use and overconsumption. Synthetic plastics are recalcitrant to biodegradation, and mismanagement of plastic waste leads to their accumulation in the ecosystem, resulting in a disastrous environmental footprint. Enzymes capable of depolymerizing plastics have been reported recently that may provide a starting point for eco-friendly plastic recycling routes. However, some questions remain about the mechanisms by which enzymes can digest insoluble solid substrates. We review the characterization and engineering of plastic-eating enzymes and provide some comparisons with the field of lignocellulosic biomass valorization. Expected final online publication date for the Annual Review of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, Volume 13 is October 2022. Please see http://www.annualreviews.org/page/journal/pubdates for revised estimates.
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Affiliation(s)
- Margarida Gomes
- Laboratoire Gulliver (UMR 7083), CNRS, ESPCI Paris, PSL Research University, Paris, France; ;
| | - Yannick Rondelez
- Laboratoire Gulliver (UMR 7083), CNRS, ESPCI Paris, PSL Research University, Paris, France; ;
| | - Ludwik Leibler
- Laboratoire Gulliver (UMR 7083), CNRS, ESPCI Paris, PSL Research University, Paris, France; ;
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12
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Qi X, Yan W, Cao Z, Ding M, Yuan Y. Current Advances in the Biodegradation and Bioconversion of Polyethylene Terephthalate. Microorganisms 2021; 10:39. [PMID: 35056486 PMCID: PMC8779501 DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms10010039] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/22/2021] [Revised: 12/15/2021] [Accepted: 12/20/2021] [Indexed: 01/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Polyethylene terephthalate (PET) is a widely used plastic that is polymerized by terephthalic acid (TPA) and ethylene glycol (EG). In recent years, PET biodegradation and bioconversion have become important in solving environmental plastic pollution. More and more PET hydrolases have been discovered and modified, which mainly act on and degrade the ester bond of PET. The monomers, TPA and EG, can be further utilized by microorganisms, entering the tricarboxylic acid cycle (TCA cycle) or being converted into high value chemicals, and finally realizing the biodegradation and bioconversion of PET. Based on synthetic biology and metabolic engineering strategies, this review summarizes the current advances in the modified PET hydrolases, engineered microbial chassis in degrading PET, bioconversion pathways of PET monomers, and artificial microbial consortia in PET biodegradation and bioconversion. Artificial microbial consortium provides novel ideas for the biodegradation and bioconversion of PET or other complex polymers. It is helpful to realize the one-step bioconversion of PET into high value chemicals.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xinhua Qi
- Frontier Science Center for Synthetic Biology and Key Laboratory of Systems Bioengineering (Ministry of Education), School of Chemical Engineering and Technology, Tianjin University, Tianjin 300072, China; (X.Q.); (W.Y.); (Z.C.); (Y.Y.)
- Collaborative Innovation Center of Chemical Science and Engineering (Tianjin), Tianjin University, Tianjin 300072, China
| | - Wenlong Yan
- Frontier Science Center for Synthetic Biology and Key Laboratory of Systems Bioengineering (Ministry of Education), School of Chemical Engineering and Technology, Tianjin University, Tianjin 300072, China; (X.Q.); (W.Y.); (Z.C.); (Y.Y.)
- Collaborative Innovation Center of Chemical Science and Engineering (Tianjin), Tianjin University, Tianjin 300072, China
| | - Zhibei Cao
- Frontier Science Center for Synthetic Biology and Key Laboratory of Systems Bioengineering (Ministry of Education), School of Chemical Engineering and Technology, Tianjin University, Tianjin 300072, China; (X.Q.); (W.Y.); (Z.C.); (Y.Y.)
- Collaborative Innovation Center of Chemical Science and Engineering (Tianjin), Tianjin University, Tianjin 300072, China
| | - Mingzhu Ding
- Frontier Science Center for Synthetic Biology and Key Laboratory of Systems Bioengineering (Ministry of Education), School of Chemical Engineering and Technology, Tianjin University, Tianjin 300072, China; (X.Q.); (W.Y.); (Z.C.); (Y.Y.)
- Collaborative Innovation Center of Chemical Science and Engineering (Tianjin), Tianjin University, Tianjin 300072, China
| | - Yingjin Yuan
- Frontier Science Center for Synthetic Biology and Key Laboratory of Systems Bioengineering (Ministry of Education), School of Chemical Engineering and Technology, Tianjin University, Tianjin 300072, China; (X.Q.); (W.Y.); (Z.C.); (Y.Y.)
- Collaborative Innovation Center of Chemical Science and Engineering (Tianjin), Tianjin University, Tianjin 300072, China
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13
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Kotova IB, Taktarova YV, Tsavkelova EA, Egorova MA, Bubnov IA, Malakhova DV, Shirinkina LI, Sokolova TG, Bonch-Osmolovskaya EA. Microbial Degradation of Plastics and Approaches to Make it More Efficient. Microbiology (Reading) 2021. [DOI: 10.1134/s0026261721060084] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Abstract—
The growing worldwide production of synthetic plastics leads to increased amounts of plastic pollution. Even though microbial degradation of plastics is known to be a very slow process, this capacity has been found in many bacteria, including invertebrate symbionts, and microscopic fungi. Research in this field has been mostly focused on microbial degradation of polyethylene, polystyrene, and polyethylene terephthalate (PET). Quite an arsenal of different methods is available today for detecting processes of plastic degradation and measuring their rates. Given the lack of generally accepted protocols, it is difficult to compare results presented by different authors. PET degradation by recombinant hydrolases from thermophilic actinobacteria happens to be the most efficient among the currently known plastic degradation processes. Various approaches to accelerating microbial plastic degradation are also discussed.
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14
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Borthakur D, Rani M, Das K, Shah MP, Sharma BK, Kumar A. Bioremediation: an alternative approach for detoxification of polymers from the contaminated environment. Lett Appl Microbiol 2021; 75:744-758. [PMID: 34825392 DOI: 10.1111/lam.13616] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/06/2021] [Revised: 10/04/2021] [Accepted: 11/02/2021] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
The industries and metropolitan wastes produced by anthropogenic activities are of great concern for nature as it causes soil contamination and deteriorate the environment. Plastic utilization is rapidly enhancing globally with passing days that last for a more extended period in the environment due to slow decomposition and natural degradation. Excessive use of polymer has risked the life of both marine, freshwater and terrestrial organisms. Lack of proper waste management and inappropriate disposal leads to environmental threats. Bioremediation processes involve microbes such as fungi, bacteria, etc. which contribute a crucial role in the breakdown of plastics. Extremophiles secrete extremozymes that are functionally active in extreme conditions and are highly crucial for polymer disaggregation in those conditions.
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Affiliation(s)
- D Borthakur
- Department of Microbiology, Tripura University (A Central University), Agartala, Tripura, India.,Department of Life Sciences, Assam Don Bosco University, Tepesia, Assam, India
| | - M Rani
- School of Life Sciences, Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi, India
| | - K Das
- Department of Microbiology, Tripura University (A Central University), Agartala, Tripura, India
| | - M P Shah
- Enviro Technology Ltd., Ankleshwar, Gujarat, India
| | - B K Sharma
- Department of Microbiology, Tripura University (A Central University), Agartala, Tripura, India
| | - A Kumar
- Department of Microbiology, Tripura University (A Central University), Agartala, Tripura, India
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15
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Piribauer B, Bartl A, Ipsmiller W. Enzymatic textile recycling - best practices and outlook. WASTE MANAGEMENT & RESEARCH : THE JOURNAL OF THE INTERNATIONAL SOLID WASTES AND PUBLIC CLEANSING ASSOCIATION, ISWA 2021; 39:1277-1290. [PMID: 34238113 DOI: 10.1177/0734242x211029167] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
Recently, textiles and their end-of-life management have become the focus of public and political attention. In the European Union the revised waste framework directive defines textiles as municipal waste and stipulates their separate collection by 2025. In the context of these developments, this paper summarises briefly the current state-of-the-art in textile recycling. It is evident that recycling methods are not yet fully developed. This is especially the case with multi-material textiles, which are composed of two or more polymers that are incompatible for recycling. In the practical part of the communication, results are presented which show that enzymatic hydrolysis is a suitable process for recycling textiles made of cotton and polyester. After a complete removal of cotton, the remaining pure polyester fibres undergo a re-granulation and post-condensation step. The so obtained recycled polyester is fed back into the textile processing chain and finally towels are obtained. The main steering parameters of the enzymatic hydrolysis process are described. The study proves that solutions in accordance with the Circular Economy in the textile sector are available but an industrial implementation has not yet been realised.
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Affiliation(s)
- Benjamin Piribauer
- Environmental and Bioscience Engineering, TU Wien, Institute of Chemical, Vienna, Austria
| | - Andreas Bartl
- Environmental and Bioscience Engineering, TU Wien, Institute of Chemical, Vienna, Austria
| | - Wolfgang Ipsmiller
- Environmental and Bioscience Engineering, TU Wien, Institute of Chemical, Vienna, Austria
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16
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Zhu B, Wang D, Wei N. Enzyme Discovery and Engineering for Sustainable Plastic Recycling. Trends Biotechnol 2021; 40:22-37. [PMID: 33676748 DOI: 10.1016/j.tibtech.2021.02.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 88] [Impact Index Per Article: 29.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/15/2020] [Revised: 02/09/2021] [Accepted: 02/10/2021] [Indexed: 10/22/2022]
Abstract
The drastically increasing amount of plastic waste is causing an environmental crisis that requires innovative technologies for recycling post-consumer plastics to achieve waste valorization while meeting environmental quality goals. Biocatalytic depolymerization mediated by enzymes has emerged as an efficient and sustainable alternative for plastic treatment and recycling. A variety of plastic-degrading enzymes have been discovered from microbial sources. Meanwhile, protein engineering has been exploited to modify and optimize plastic-degrading enzymes. This review highlights the recent trends and up-to-date advances in mining novel plastic-degrading enzymes through state-of-the-art omics-based techniques and improving the enzyme catalytic efficiency and stability via various protein engineering strategies. Future research prospects and challenges are also discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Baotong Zhu
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering and Earth Sciences, University of Notre Dame, 156 Fitzpatrick Hall, Notre Dame, Indiana 46556, USA
| | - Dong Wang
- Department of Computer Science and Engineering, University of Notre Dame, 156 Fitzpatrick Hall, Notre Dame, Indiana 46556, USA
| | - Na Wei
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering and Earth Sciences, University of Notre Dame, 156 Fitzpatrick Hall, Notre Dame, Indiana 46556, USA.
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17
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Sanders D, Grunden A, Dunn RR. A review of clothing microbiology: the history of clothing and the role of microbes in textiles. Biol Lett 2021; 17:20200700. [PMID: 33435848 PMCID: PMC7876606 DOI: 10.1098/rsbl.2020.0700] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/28/2020] [Accepted: 12/14/2020] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Humans have worn clothing for thousands of years, and since its invention, clothing has evolved from its simple utilitarian function for survival to become an integral part of society. While much consideration has been given to the broad environmental impacts of the textile and laundering industries, little is known about the impact wearing clothing has had on the human microbiome, particularly that of the skin, despite our long history with clothing. This review discusses the history of clothing and the evolution of textiles, what is and is not known about microbial persistence on and degradation of various fibres, and what opportunities for the industrial and environmental application of clothing microbiology exist for the future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Deaja Sanders
- Department of Plant and Microbial Biology, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC 27695, USA
| | - Amy Grunden
- Department of Plant and Microbial Biology, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC 27695, USA
| | - Robert R. Dunn
- Department of Applied Ecology, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC 27695, USA
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18
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Abstract
In the past years, several serine hydrolases such as cutinases, esterases and lipases have shown the ability to degrade not only natural polymers but also synthetic polyesters, even aromatic representatives like polyethylene terephthalate (PET). Hence, cutinases and related ester hydrolases have become very important to be applied in the biocatalytic plastic recycling as green alternative to chemical recycling as well as to the functionalization of polyester surfaces in order to change superficial properties like hydrophobicity or hydrophilicity. Sorption characteristics of the enzymes to the polymers have turned out to be a crucial process for efficient polymer hydrolysis. Hence, special attention was paid on tuning the sorption of the enzymes to the hydrophobic polymers. Engineering of the enzyme surface, fusion of hydrophobic substrate-binding domains or truncation of domains hindering the access of the polymer to the enzyme has led to significant improvement of sorption processes and consequently increased activity on the bulky substrate. Finally, the combination of engineering approaches has proved that they can bring additional advantages in improving the enzyme activity when used in a synergistic manner.
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Affiliation(s)
- Doris Ribitsch
- Institute for Environmental Biotechnology, IFA Tulln, University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences, Vienna, Austria; ACIB-Austrian Centre of Industrial Biotechnology, Graz, Austria.
| | - Georg M Guebitz
- Institute for Environmental Biotechnology, IFA Tulln, University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences, Vienna, Austria
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19
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Biundo A, Braunschmid V, Pretzler M, Kampatsikas I, Darnhofer B, Birner-Gruenberger R, Rompel A, Ribitsch D, Guebitz GM. Polyphenol oxidases exhibit promiscuous proteolytic activity. Commun Chem 2020; 3:62. [PMID: 36703476 PMCID: PMC9814219 DOI: 10.1038/s42004-020-0305-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/07/2020] [Accepted: 04/16/2020] [Indexed: 01/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Tyrosinases catalyse both the cresolase and catecholase reactions for the formation of reactive compounds which are very important for industrial applications. In this study, we describe a proteolytic activity of tyrosinases. Two different tyrosinases originating from mushroom and apple are able to cleave the carboxylesterase EstA. The cleavage reaction correlates with the integrity of the active site of tyrosinase and is independent of other possible influencing factors, which could be present in the reaction. Therefore, the cleavage of EstA represents a novel functionality of tyrosinases. EstA was previously reported to degrade synthetic polyesters, albeit slowly. However, the EstA truncated by tyrosinase shows higher degradation activity on the non-biodegradable polyester polyethylene terephthalate (PET), which is a well-established environmental threat.
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Affiliation(s)
- A Biundo
- Institute of Environmental Biotechnology, University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences (BOKU), Konrad Lorenz Straße 22, 3430, Tulln, Austria
- Department of Biosciences, Biotechnology and Biopharmaceutics, University of Bari, Via Edoardo Orabona, 70125, Bari, Italy
| | - V Braunschmid
- Institute of Environmental Biotechnology, University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences (BOKU), Konrad Lorenz Straße 22, 3430, Tulln, Austria
- Austrian Centre for Industrial Biotechnology (ACIB), Konrad Lorenz Straße 22, 3430 Tulln, Austria and Petersgasse 14, 8010, Graz, Austria
| | - M Pretzler
- Universität Wien, Fakultät für Chemie, Institut für Biophysikalische Chemie, Althanstraße 14, 1090, Wien, Austria
| | - I Kampatsikas
- Universität Wien, Fakultät für Chemie, Institut für Biophysikalische Chemie, Althanstraße 14, 1090, Wien, Austria
| | - B Darnhofer
- Austrian Centre for Industrial Biotechnology (ACIB), Konrad Lorenz Straße 22, 3430 Tulln, Austria and Petersgasse 14, 8010, Graz, Austria
- Medical University of Graz, Diagnostic and Research Institute of Pathology, Neue Stiftingtalstraße 6, 8010, Graz, Austria
- BioTechMed-Graz, Mozartgasse 12/II, 8010, Graz, Austria
| | - R Birner-Gruenberger
- Medical University of Graz, Diagnostic and Research Institute of Pathology, Neue Stiftingtalstraße 6, 8010, Graz, Austria
- BioTechMed-Graz, Mozartgasse 12/II, 8010, Graz, Austria
- Vienna University of Technology, Institute for Chemical Technologies and Analytics, Getreidemarkt 9/164, 1060, Vienna, Austria
| | - A Rompel
- Universität Wien, Fakultät für Chemie, Institut für Biophysikalische Chemie, Althanstraße 14, 1090, Wien, Austria
| | - D Ribitsch
- Institute of Environmental Biotechnology, University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences (BOKU), Konrad Lorenz Straße 22, 3430, Tulln, Austria.
- Austrian Centre for Industrial Biotechnology (ACIB), Konrad Lorenz Straße 22, 3430 Tulln, Austria and Petersgasse 14, 8010, Graz, Austria.
| | - G M Guebitz
- Institute of Environmental Biotechnology, University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences (BOKU), Konrad Lorenz Straße 22, 3430, Tulln, Austria
- Austrian Centre for Industrial Biotechnology (ACIB), Konrad Lorenz Straße 22, 3430 Tulln, Austria and Petersgasse 14, 8010, Graz, Austria
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20
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Biochemical properties and biotechnological applications of microbial enzymes involved in the degradation of polyester-type plastics. BIOCHIMICA ET BIOPHYSICA ACTA-PROTEINS AND PROTEOMICS 2020; 1868:140315. [DOI: 10.1016/j.bbapap.2019.140315] [Citation(s) in RCA: 62] [Impact Index Per Article: 15.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/31/2019] [Revised: 10/07/2019] [Accepted: 10/22/2019] [Indexed: 01/03/2023]
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21
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Molitor R, Bollinger A, Kubicki S, Loeschcke A, Jaeger K, Thies S. Agar plate-based screening methods for the identification of polyester hydrolysis by Pseudomonas species. Microb Biotechnol 2020; 13:274-284. [PMID: 31016871 PMCID: PMC6922526 DOI: 10.1111/1751-7915.13418] [Citation(s) in RCA: 46] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/23/2019] [Revised: 04/05/2019] [Accepted: 04/08/2019] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Hydrolases acting on polyesters like cutin, polycaprolactone or polyethylene terephthalate (PET) are of interest for several biotechnological applications like waste treatment, biocatalysis and sustainable polymer modifications. Recent studies suggest that a large variety of such enzymes are still to be identified and explored in a variety of microorganisms, including bacteria of the genus Pseudomonas. For activity-based screening, methods have been established using agar plates which contain nanoparticles of polycaprolactone or PET prepared by solvent precipitation and evaporation. In this protocol article, we describe a straightforward agar plate-based method using emulsifiable artificial polyesters as substrates, namely Impranil® DLN and liquid polycaprolactone diol (PLD). Thereby, the currently quite narrow set of screening substrates is expanded. We also suggest optional pre-screening with short-chain and middle-chain-length triglycerides as substrates to identify enzymes with lipolytic activity to be further tested for polyesterase activity. We applied these assays to experimentally demonstrate polyesterase activity in bacteria from the P. pertucinogena lineage originating from contaminated soils and diverse marine habitats.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rebecka Molitor
- Institute of Molecular Enzyme TechnologyHeinrich‐Heine‐University DüsseldorfForschungszentrum JülichD‐52425JülichGermany
| | - Alexander Bollinger
- Institute of Molecular Enzyme TechnologyHeinrich‐Heine‐University DüsseldorfForschungszentrum JülichD‐52425JülichGermany
| | - Sonja Kubicki
- Institute of Molecular Enzyme TechnologyHeinrich‐Heine‐University DüsseldorfForschungszentrum JülichD‐52425JülichGermany
| | - Anita Loeschcke
- Institute of Molecular Enzyme TechnologyHeinrich‐Heine‐University DüsseldorfForschungszentrum JülichD‐52425JülichGermany
| | - Karl‐Erich Jaeger
- Institute of Molecular Enzyme TechnologyHeinrich‐Heine‐University DüsseldorfForschungszentrum JülichD‐52425JülichGermany
- Institute of Bio‐ and Geosciences IBG‐1: BiotechnologyForschungszentrum Jülich GmbHD‐52425JülichGermany
| | - Stephan Thies
- Institute of Molecular Enzyme TechnologyHeinrich‐Heine‐University DüsseldorfForschungszentrum JülichD‐52425JülichGermany
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22
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Biundo A, Subagia R, Maurer M, Ribitsch D, Syrén PO, Guebitz GM. Switched reaction specificity in polyesterases towards amide bond hydrolysis by enzyme engineering. RSC Adv 2019; 9:36217-36226. [PMID: 35540575 PMCID: PMC9074940 DOI: 10.1039/c9ra07519d] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/17/2019] [Accepted: 10/28/2019] [Indexed: 01/03/2023] Open
Abstract
The recalcitrance of plastics like nylon and other polyamides contributes to environmental problems (e.g. microplastics in oceans) and restricts possibilities for recycling. The fact that hitherto discovered amidases (EC 3.5.1. and 3.5.2.) only show no, or low, activity on polyamides currently obstructs biotechnological-assisted depolymerization of man-made materials. In this work, we capitalized on enzyme engineering to enhance the promiscuous amidase activity of polyesterases. Through enzyme design we created a reallocated water network adapted for hydrogen bond formation to synthetic amide backbones for enhanced transition state stabilization in the polyester-hydrolyzing biocatalysts Humicola insolens cutinase and Thermobifida cellulosilytica cutinase 1. This novel concept enabled increased catalytic efficiency towards amide-containing soluble substrates. The afforded enhanced hydrolysis of the amide bond-containing insoluble substrate 3PA 6,6 by designed variants was aligned with improved transition state stabilization identified by molecular dynamics (MD) simulations. Furthermore, the presence of a favorable water-molecule network that interacted with synthetic amides in the variants resulted in a reduced activity on polyethylene terephthalate (PET). Our data demonstrate the potential of using enzyme engineering to improve the amidase activity for polyesterases to act on synthetic amide-containing polymers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Antonino Biundo
- Austrian Centre of Industrial Biotechnology (ACIB) Konrad Lorenz Strasse 20 3430 Tulln an der Donau Austria
| | - Raditya Subagia
- Institute of Environmental Biotechnology, University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences (BOKU) Konrad Lorenz Strasse 20 3430 Tulln an der Donau Austria
| | - Michael Maurer
- Department of Bioengineering, University of Applied Sciences Mauerbachstrasse 43 1140 Vienna Austria
| | - Doris Ribitsch
- Austrian Centre of Industrial Biotechnology (ACIB) Konrad Lorenz Strasse 20 3430 Tulln an der Donau Austria
- Institute of Environmental Biotechnology, University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences (BOKU) Konrad Lorenz Strasse 20 3430 Tulln an der Donau Austria
| | - Per-Olof Syrén
- Science for Life Laboratory, Department of Fibre and Polymer Technology and Department of Protein Science, School of Engineering Sciences in Chemistry, Biotechnology and Health, KTH Royal Institute of Technology Tomtebodavägen 23, Box 1031 17165 Solna Sweden
| | - Georg M Guebitz
- Austrian Centre of Industrial Biotechnology (ACIB) Konrad Lorenz Strasse 20 3430 Tulln an der Donau Austria
- Institute of Environmental Biotechnology, University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences (BOKU) Konrad Lorenz Strasse 20 3430 Tulln an der Donau Austria
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23
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Quartinello F, Guebitz GM, Ribitsch D. Surface functionalization of polyester. Methods Enzymol 2019; 627:339-360. [DOI: 10.1016/bs.mie.2019.08.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/04/2023]
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24
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Liang B, Huang X, Teng Y, Liang Y, Yang Y, Zheng L, Lu X. Enhanced Single-Step Bioproduction of the Simvastatin Precursor Monacolin J in an Industrial Strain ofAspergillus terreusby Employing the Evolved Lovastatin Hydrolase. Biotechnol J 2018; 13:e1800094. [DOI: 10.1002/biot.201800094] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/08/2018] [Revised: 04/03/2018] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Bo Liang
- Shandong Provincial Key Laboratory of Synthetic Biology; Qingdao Institute of Bioenergy and Bioprocess Technology; Chinese Academy of Sciences; Qingdao 266101 China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences; Beijing 100049 China
| | - Xuenian Huang
- Shandong Provincial Key Laboratory of Synthetic Biology; Qingdao Institute of Bioenergy and Bioprocess Technology; Chinese Academy of Sciences; Qingdao 266101 China
| | - Yun Teng
- Zhejiang Key Laboratory of Antifungal Drugs; Zhejiang Hisun Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd.; Taizhou 318000 China
| | - Yajing Liang
- Shandong Provincial Key Laboratory of Synthetic Biology; Qingdao Institute of Bioenergy and Bioprocess Technology; Chinese Academy of Sciences; Qingdao 266101 China
- Key Laboratory of Biofuels; Qingdao Institute of Bioenergy and Bioprocess Technology; Chinese Academy of Sciences; Qingdao 266101 China
| | - Yong Yang
- Zhejiang Key Laboratory of Antifungal Drugs; Zhejiang Hisun Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd.; Taizhou 318000 China
| | - Linghui Zheng
- Zhejiang Key Laboratory of Antifungal Drugs; Zhejiang Hisun Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd.; Taizhou 318000 China
| | - Xuefeng Lu
- Shandong Provincial Key Laboratory of Synthetic Biology; Qingdao Institute of Bioenergy and Bioprocess Technology; Chinese Academy of Sciences; Qingdao 266101 China
- Key Laboratory of Biofuels; Qingdao Institute of Bioenergy and Bioprocess Technology; Chinese Academy of Sciences; Qingdao 266101 China
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25
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Biundo A, Ribitsch D, Guebitz GM. Surface engineering of polyester-degrading enzymes to improve efficiency and tune specificity. Appl Microbiol Biotechnol 2018; 102:3551-3559. [PMID: 29511846 DOI: 10.1007/s00253-018-8850-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 40] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/04/2017] [Revised: 02/08/2018] [Accepted: 02/10/2018] [Indexed: 01/06/2023]
Abstract
Certain members of the carboxylesterase superfamily can act at the interface between water and water-insoluble substrates. However, nonnatural bulky polyesters usually are not efficiently hydrolyzed. In the recent years, the potential of enzyme engineering to improve hydrolysis of synthetic polyesters has been demonstrated. Regions on the enzyme surface have been modified by using site-directed mutagenesis in order to tune sorption processes through increased hydrophobicity of the enzyme surface. Such modifications can involve specific amino acid substitutions, addition of binding modules, or truncation of entire domains improving sorption properties and/or dynamics of the enzyme. In this review, we provide a comprehensive overview on different strategies developed in the recent years for enzyme surface engineering to improve the activity of polyester-hydrolyzing enzymes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Antonino Biundo
- Austrian Centre of Industrial Biotechnology (ACIB), Tulln an der Donau, Austria
| | - Doris Ribitsch
- Austrian Centre of Industrial Biotechnology (ACIB), Tulln an der Donau, Austria. .,Institute of Environmental Biotechnology, University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences (BOKU), Tulln an der Donau, Austria.
| | - Georg M Guebitz
- Austrian Centre of Industrial Biotechnology (ACIB), Tulln an der Donau, Austria.,Institute of Environmental Biotechnology, University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences (BOKU), Tulln an der Donau, Austria
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26
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Biundo A, Reich J, Ribitsch D, Guebitz GM. Synergistic effect of mutagenesis and truncation to improve a polyesterase from Clostridium botulinum for polyester hydrolysis. Sci Rep 2018; 8:3745. [PMID: 29487314 PMCID: PMC5829244 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-018-21825-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/22/2017] [Accepted: 02/01/2018] [Indexed: 11/09/2022] Open
Abstract
The activity of the esterase (Cbotu_EstA) from Clostridium botulinum on the polyester poly(ethylene terephthalate) (PET) was improved by concomitant engineering of two different domains. On the one hand, the zinc-binding domain present in Cbotu_EstA was subjected to site-directed mutagenesis. On the other hand, a specific domain consisting of 71 amino acids at the N-terminus of the enzyme was deleted. Interestingly, a combination of substitution of residues present in the zinc-binding domain (e.g. S199A) synergistically increased the activity of the enzyme on PET seven fold when combined to the truncation of 71 amino acids at the N-terminus of the enzyme only. Overall, when compared to the native enzyme, the combination of truncation and substitutions in the zinc-binding domain lead to a 50-fold activity improvement. Moreover, analysis of the kinetic parameters of the Cbotu_EstA variants indicated a clear shift of activity from water soluble (i.e. para-nitrophenyl butyrate) to insoluble polymeric substrates. These results evidently show that the interaction with non-natural polymeric substrates provides targets for enzyme engineering.
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Affiliation(s)
- Antonino Biundo
- Austrian Centre for Industrial Biotechnology (ACIB), 3430, Tulln an der Donau, Austria
| | - Johanna Reich
- Institute of Environmental Biotechnology, University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences (BOKU), 3430, Tulln an der Donau, Austria
| | - Doris Ribitsch
- Austrian Centre for Industrial Biotechnology (ACIB), 3430, Tulln an der Donau, Austria. .,Institute of Environmental Biotechnology, University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences (BOKU), 3430, Tulln an der Donau, Austria.
| | - Georg M Guebitz
- Austrian Centre for Industrial Biotechnology (ACIB), 3430, Tulln an der Donau, Austria.,Institute of Environmental Biotechnology, University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences (BOKU), 3430, Tulln an der Donau, Austria
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27
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Wei R, Zimmermann W. Microbial enzymes for the recycling of recalcitrant petroleum-based plastics: how far are we? Microb Biotechnol 2017; 10:1308-1322. [PMID: 28371373 PMCID: PMC5658625 DOI: 10.1111/1751-7915.12710] [Citation(s) in RCA: 338] [Impact Index Per Article: 48.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/21/2016] [Revised: 03/02/2017] [Accepted: 03/06/2017] [Indexed: 01/25/2023] Open
Abstract
Petroleum-based plastics have replaced many natural materials in their former applications. With their excellent properties, they have found widespread uses in almost every area of human life. However, the high recalcitrance of many synthetic plastics results in their long persistence in the environment, and the growing amount of plastic waste ending up in landfills and in the oceans has become a global concern. In recent years, a number of microbial enzymes capable of modifying or degrading recalcitrant synthetic polymers have been identified. They are emerging as candidates for the development of biocatalytic plastic recycling processes, by which valuable raw materials can be recovered in an environmentally sustainable way. This review is focused on microbial biocatalysts involved in the degradation of the synthetic plastics polyethylene, polystyrene, polyurethane and polyethylene terephthalate (PET). Recent progress in the application of polyester hydrolases for the recovery of PET building blocks and challenges for the application of these enzymes in alternative plastic waste recycling processes will be discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ren Wei
- Department of Microbiology and Bioprocess TechnologyInstitute of BiochemistryLeipzig UniversityJohannisallee 21‐2304103LeipzigGermany
| | - Wolfgang Zimmermann
- Department of Microbiology and Bioprocess TechnologyInstitute of BiochemistryLeipzig UniversityJohannisallee 21‐2304103LeipzigGermany
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