1
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Schneier A, Melaugh G, Sadler JC. Engineered plastic-associated bacteria for biodegradation and bioremediation. BIOTECHNOLOGY FOR THE ENVIRONMENT 2024; 1:7. [PMID: 39026535 PMCID: PMC11256910 DOI: 10.1186/s44314-024-00007-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/26/2024] [Accepted: 04/29/2024] [Indexed: 07/20/2024]
Abstract
The global plastic waste crisis has triggered the development of novel methods for removal of recalcitrant polymers from the environment. Biotechnological approaches have received particular attention due to their potential for enabling sustainable, low-intensity bioprocesses which could also be interfaced with microbial upcycling pathways to support the emerging circular bioeconomy. However, low biodegradation efficiency of solid plastic materials remains a bottleneck, especially at mesophilic conditions required for one-pot degradation and upcycling. A promising strategy used in nature to address this is localisation of plastic-degrading microbes to the plastic surface via biofilm-mediated surface association. This review highlights progress and opportunities in leveraging these naturally occurring mechanisms of biofilm formation and other cell-surface adhesion biotechnologies to co-localise engineered cells to plastic surfaces. We further discuss examples of combining these approaches with extracellular expression of plastic-degrading enzymes to accelerate plastic degradation. Additionally, we review this topic in the context of nano- and microplastics bioremediation and their removal from wastewater and finally propose future research directions for this nascent field.
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Affiliation(s)
- Arianna Schneier
- Institute of Quantitative Biology, Biochemistry and Biotechnology, School of Biological Sciences, University of Edinburgh, Roger Land Building, Alexander Crum Brown Road, King’s Buildings, Edinburgh, EH9 3FF UK
| | - Gavin Melaugh
- School of Physics and Astronomy, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, EH9 3FD UK
- School of Engineering, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, EH9 3JL UK
| | - Joanna C. Sadler
- Institute of Quantitative Biology, Biochemistry and Biotechnology, School of Biological Sciences, University of Edinburgh, Roger Land Building, Alexander Crum Brown Road, King’s Buildings, Edinburgh, EH9 3FF UK
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2
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Oliveira L, Cahill A, Wuscher L, Green KR, Bemmer V, Lichtenstein BR. Investigating the effect of fusion partners on the enzymatic activity and thermodynamic stability of poly(ethylene terephthalate) degrading enzymes. Faraday Discuss 2024. [PMID: 38829129 DOI: 10.1039/d4fd00067f] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/05/2024]
Abstract
Plastics are a cornerstone of the modern world, yet the durable material properties that we have come to depend upon have made them recalcitrant environmental pollutants. Biological solutions in the form of engineered enzymes offer low energy and sustainable approaches to recycle and upcycle plastic waste, uncoupling their production and end of life from fossil fuels and greenhouse gases. These enzymes however, encounter immense challenges acting on plastics: facing hydrophobic surfaces, molecular crowding, and high levels of substrate heterogeneity. There have been mixed reports about the benefits of fusing partner domains to polyethylene terephthalate (PET) degrading enzymes, with moderate improvements identified under specific conditions, but no clarity into the factors that underlie the mechanisms. Here, we use the SpyCatcher003:SpyTag003 technology, which demonstrates a profound 47 °C shift in Tm upon irreversible complex formation, to investigate the influence of the thermal stability of the fusion partner on a range of PETases selected for their optimal reaction temperatures. We find that the thermal stability of the fusion partner does not have a positive correlation on the activity of the enzymes or their evident kinetic and thermal stabilities. Instead, it appears that the fusion to less stable SpyCatcher003 tends to increase the measured activation energy of unfolding compared to the more stable complex and wildtype enzymes. Despite this, the fusions to SpyCatcher003 do not show significantly better catalytic activity on PET films, with or without SpyTag003, and were found to be sometimes disruptive. The approach we highlight here, in using a fusion partner with controllable melting temperature, allowed us to dissect the impact of the stability of a fusion partner on enzyme properties. Although fusion stability did not appear to be coupled with identifiable trends in enzymatic activities, careful analysis of the unfolding pathways, and solid and solution activities of a wider range of enzymes may yield a more detailed understanding.
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Affiliation(s)
- Liliana Oliveira
- Centre for Enzyme Innovation, School of Biological Sciences, University of Portsmouth, UK.
| | - Alex Cahill
- Centre for Enzyme Innovation, School of Biological Sciences, University of Portsmouth, UK.
| | - Len Wuscher
- Centre for Enzyme Innovation, School of Biological Sciences, University of Portsmouth, UK.
| | - Kerry R Green
- Centre for Enzyme Innovation, School of Biological Sciences, University of Portsmouth, UK.
| | - Victoria Bemmer
- Centre for Enzyme Innovation, School of Biological Sciences, University of Portsmouth, UK.
| | - Bruce R Lichtenstein
- Centre for Enzyme Innovation, School of Biological Sciences, University of Portsmouth, UK.
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3
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Joho Y, Royan S, Caputo AT, Newton S, Peat TS, Newman J, Jackson C, Ardevol A. Enhancing PET Degrading Enzymes: A Combinatory Approach. Chembiochem 2024; 25:e202400084. [PMID: 38584134 DOI: 10.1002/cbic.202400084] [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: 01/30/2024] [Revised: 04/02/2024] [Accepted: 04/04/2024] [Indexed: 04/09/2024]
Abstract
Plastic waste has become a substantial environmental issue. A potential strategy to mitigate this problem is to use enzymatic hydrolysis of plastics to depolymerize post-consumer waste and allow it to be reused. Over the last few decades, the use of enzymatic PET-degrading enzymes has shown promise as a great solution for creating a circular plastic waste economy. PsPETase from Piscinibacter sakaiensis has been identified as an enzyme with tremendous potential for such applications. But to improve its efficiency, enzyme engineering has been applied aiming at enhancing its thermal stability, enzymatic activity, and ease of production. Here, we combine different strategies such as structure-based rational design, ancestral sequence reconstruction and machine learning to engineer a more highly active Combi-PETase variant with a melting temperature of 70 °C and optimal performance at 60 °C. Furthermore, this study demonstrates that these approaches, commonly used in other works of enzyme engineering, are most effective when utilized in combination, enabling the improvement of enzymes for industrial applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yvonne Joho
- Manufacturing, Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation, Clayton, Victoria, 3168, Australia
- Research School of Chemistry, Australian National University, Canberra, ACT 2601, Australia
- CSIRO Advanced Engineering Biology Future Science Platform, GPO Box 1700, Canberra, ACT 2601, Australia
| | - Santana Royan
- Manufacturing, Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation, Clayton, Victoria, 3168, Australia
| | - Alessandro T Caputo
- Manufacturing, Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation, Clayton, Victoria, 3168, Australia
| | - Sophia Newton
- Manufacturing, Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation, Clayton, Victoria, 3168, Australia
| | - Thomas S Peat
- School of Biotechnology & Biomolecular Sciences, University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW 2052, Australia
| | - Janet Newman
- School of Biotechnology & Biomolecular Sciences, University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW 2052, Australia
| | - Colin Jackson
- Research School of Chemistry, Australian National University, Canberra, ACT 2601, Australia
- ARC Centre of Excellence for Innovations in Peptide & Protein Science, Research School of Chemistry, Australian National University, Canberra, ACT 2601, Australia
- ARC Centre of Excellence for Innovations in Synthetic Biology, Research School of Chemistry, Australian National University, Canberra, ACT 2601, Australia
| | - Albert Ardevol
- Manufacturing, Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation, Clayton, Victoria, 3168, Australia
- CSIRO Advanced Engineering Biology Future Science Platform, GPO Box 1700, Canberra, ACT 2601, Australia
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4
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Joho Y, Vongsouthi V, Gomez C, Larsen JS, Ardevol A, Jackson CJ. Improving plastic degrading enzymes via directed evolution. Protein Eng Des Sel 2024; 37:gzae009. [PMID: 38713696 PMCID: PMC11091475 DOI: 10.1093/protein/gzae009] [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: 12/15/2023] [Revised: 04/30/2024] [Accepted: 05/05/2024] [Indexed: 05/09/2024] Open
Abstract
Plastic degrading enzymes have immense potential for use in industrial applications. Protein engineering efforts over the last decade have resulted in considerable enhancement of many properties of these enzymes. Directed evolution, a protein engineering approach that mimics the natural process of evolution in a laboratory, has been particularly useful in overcoming some of the challenges of structure-based protein engineering. For example, directed evolution has been used to improve the catalytic activity and thermostability of polyethylene terephthalate (PET)-degrading enzymes, although its use for the improvement of other desirable properties, such as solvent tolerance, has been less studied. In this review, we aim to identify some of the knowledge gaps and current challenges, and highlight recent studies related to the directed evolution of plastic-degrading enzymes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yvonne Joho
- Manufacturing, Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation, Research Way, Clayton, Victoria 3168, Australia
- Research School of Chemistry, Australian National University, Sullivans Creek Rd, Canberra, ACT 2601, Australia
- CSIRO Advanced Engineering Biology Future Science Platform, GPO Box 1700, Canberra, ACT 2601, Australia
| | - Vanessa Vongsouthi
- Research School of Chemistry, Australian National University, Sullivans Creek Rd, Canberra, ACT 2601, Australia
| | - Chloe Gomez
- Research School of Chemistry, Australian National University, Sullivans Creek Rd, Canberra, ACT 2601, Australia
| | - Joachim S Larsen
- Research School of Chemistry, Australian National University, Sullivans Creek Rd, Canberra, ACT 2601, Australia
- ARC Centre of Excellence for Synthetic Biology, Research School of Chemistry, Australian National University, Sullivans Creek Rd, Canberra, ACT 2601, Australia
| | - Albert Ardevol
- Manufacturing, Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation, Research Way, Clayton, Victoria 3168, Australia
- CSIRO Advanced Engineering Biology Future Science Platform, GPO Box 1700, Canberra, ACT 2601, Australia
| | - Colin J Jackson
- Research School of Chemistry, Australian National University, Sullivans Creek Rd, Canberra, ACT 2601, Australia
- ARC Centre of Excellence for Synthetic Biology, Research School of Chemistry, Australian National University, Sullivans Creek Rd, Canberra, ACT 2601, Australia
- ARC Centre of Excellence for Innovations in Peptide & Protein Science, Research School of Chemistry, Australian National University, Sullivans Creek Rd, Canberra, ACT 2601, Australia
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5
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de Witt J, Molitor R, Gätgens J, Ortmann de Percin Northumberland C, Kruse L, Polen T, Wynands B, van Goethem K, Thies S, Jaeger K, Wierckx N. Biodegradation of poly(ester-urethane) coatings by Halopseudomonas formosensis. Microb Biotechnol 2024; 17:e14362. [PMID: 37991424 PMCID: PMC10834883 DOI: 10.1111/1751-7915.14362] [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: 06/29/2023] [Revised: 09/18/2023] [Accepted: 10/12/2023] [Indexed: 11/23/2023] Open
Abstract
Impranil® DLN-SD is a poly(ester-urethane) (PEU) that is widely used as coating material for textiles to fine-tune and improve their properties. Since coatings increase the complexity of such plastic materials, they can pose a hindrance for sustainable end-of-life solutions of plastics using enzymes or microorganisms. In this study, we isolated Halopseudomonas formosensis FZJ due to its ability to grow on Impranil DLN-SD and other PEUs as sole carbon sources. The isolated strain was exceptionally thermotolerant as it could degrade Impranil DLN-SD at up to 50°C. We identified several putative extracellular hydrolases of which the polyester hydrolase Hfor_PE-H showed substrate degradation of Impranil DLN-SD and thus was purified and characterized in detail. Hfor_PE-H showed moderate temperature stability (Tm = 53.9°C) and exhibited activity towards Impranil DLN-SD as well as polyethylene terephthalate. Moreover, we revealed the enzymatic release of monomers from Impranil DLN-SD by Hfor_PE-H using GC-ToF-MS and could decipher the associated metabolic pathways in H. formosensis FZJ. Overall, this study provides detailed insights into the microbial and enzymatic degradation of PEU coatings, thereby deepening our understanding of microbial coating degradation in both contained and natural environments. Moreover, the study highlights the relevance of the genus Halopseudomonas and especially the novel isolate and its enzymes for future bio-upcycling processes of coated plastic materials.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jan de Witt
- Institute of Bio‐ and Geosciences IBG‐1: Biotechnology, Forschungszentrum JülichJülichGermany
| | - Rebecka Molitor
- Institute of Molecular Enzyme Technology, Heinrich‐Heine‐University DüsseldorfForschungszentrum JülichJülichGermany
| | - Jochem Gätgens
- Institute of Bio‐ and Geosciences IBG‐1: Biotechnology, Forschungszentrum JülichJülichGermany
| | | | - Luzie Kruse
- Institute of Molecular Enzyme Technology, Heinrich‐Heine‐University DüsseldorfForschungszentrum JülichJülichGermany
| | - Tino Polen
- Institute of Bio‐ and Geosciences IBG‐1: Biotechnology, Forschungszentrum JülichJülichGermany
| | - Benedikt Wynands
- Institute of Bio‐ and Geosciences IBG‐1: Biotechnology, Forschungszentrum JülichJülichGermany
| | | | - Stephan Thies
- Institute of Molecular Enzyme Technology, Heinrich‐Heine‐University DüsseldorfForschungszentrum JülichJülichGermany
| | - Karl‐Erich Jaeger
- Institute of Bio‐ and Geosciences IBG‐1: Biotechnology, Forschungszentrum JülichJülichGermany
- Institute of Molecular Enzyme Technology, Heinrich‐Heine‐University DüsseldorfForschungszentrum JülichJülichGermany
| | - Nick Wierckx
- Institute of Bio‐ and Geosciences IBG‐1: Biotechnology, Forschungszentrum JülichJülichGermany
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6
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Radley E, Davidson J, Foster J, Obexer R, Bell EL, Green AP. Engineering Enzymes for Environmental Sustainability. ANGEWANDTE CHEMIE (WEINHEIM AN DER BERGSTRASSE, GERMANY) 2023; 135:e202309305. [PMID: 38516574 PMCID: PMC10952289 DOI: 10.1002/ange.202309305] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/03/2023] [Indexed: 03/23/2024]
Abstract
The development and implementation of sustainable catalytic technologies is key to delivering our net-zero targets. Here we review how engineered enzymes, with a focus on those developed using directed evolution, can be deployed to improve the sustainability of numerous processes and help to conserve our environment. Efficient and robust biocatalysts have been engineered to capture carbon dioxide (CO2) and have been embedded into new efficient metabolic CO2 fixation pathways. Enzymes have been refined for bioremediation, enhancing their ability to degrade toxic and harmful pollutants. Biocatalytic recycling is gaining momentum, with engineered cutinases and PETases developed for the depolymerization of the abundant plastic, polyethylene terephthalate (PET). Finally, biocatalytic approaches for accessing petroleum-based feedstocks and chemicals are expanding, using optimized enzymes to convert plant biomass into biofuels or other high value products. Through these examples, we hope to illustrate how enzyme engineering and biocatalysis can contribute to the development of cleaner and more efficient chemical industry.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emily Radley
- Department of Chemistry & Manchester Institute of Biotechnology The University of Manchester 131 Princess Street Manchester M1 7DN UK
| | - John Davidson
- Department of Chemistry & Manchester Institute of Biotechnology The University of Manchester 131 Princess Street Manchester M1 7DN UK
| | - Jake Foster
- Department of Chemistry & Manchester Institute of Biotechnology The University of Manchester 131 Princess Street Manchester M1 7DN UK
| | - Richard Obexer
- Department of Chemistry & Manchester Institute of Biotechnology The University of Manchester 131 Princess Street Manchester M1 7DN UK
| | - Elizabeth L Bell
- Renewable Resources and Enabling Sciences Center National Renewable Energy Laboratory Golden CO USA
- BOTTLE Consortium Golden CO USA
| | - Anthony P Green
- Department of Chemistry & Manchester Institute of Biotechnology The University of Manchester 131 Princess Street Manchester M1 7DN UK
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7
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Radley E, Davidson J, Foster J, Obexer R, Bell EL, Green AP. Engineering Enzymes for Environmental Sustainability. Angew Chem Int Ed Engl 2023; 62:e202309305. [PMID: 37651344 PMCID: PMC10952156 DOI: 10.1002/anie.202309305] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/03/2023] [Revised: 08/23/2023] [Accepted: 08/24/2023] [Indexed: 09/02/2023]
Abstract
The development and implementation of sustainable catalytic technologies is key to delivering our net-zero targets. Here we review how engineered enzymes, with a focus on those developed using directed evolution, can be deployed to improve the sustainability of numerous processes and help to conserve our environment. Efficient and robust biocatalysts have been engineered to capture carbon dioxide (CO2 ) and have been embedded into new efficient metabolic CO2 fixation pathways. Enzymes have been refined for bioremediation, enhancing their ability to degrade toxic and harmful pollutants. Biocatalytic recycling is gaining momentum, with engineered cutinases and PETases developed for the depolymerization of the abundant plastic, polyethylene terephthalate (PET). Finally, biocatalytic approaches for accessing petroleum-based feedstocks and chemicals are expanding, using optimized enzymes to convert plant biomass into biofuels or other high value products. Through these examples, we hope to illustrate how enzyme engineering and biocatalysis can contribute to the development of cleaner and more efficient chemical industry.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emily Radley
- Department of Chemistry & Manchester Institute of BiotechnologyThe University of Manchester131 Princess StreetManchesterM1 7DNUK
| | - John Davidson
- Department of Chemistry & Manchester Institute of BiotechnologyThe University of Manchester131 Princess StreetManchesterM1 7DNUK
| | - Jake Foster
- Department of Chemistry & Manchester Institute of BiotechnologyThe University of Manchester131 Princess StreetManchesterM1 7DNUK
| | - Richard Obexer
- Department of Chemistry & Manchester Institute of BiotechnologyThe University of Manchester131 Princess StreetManchesterM1 7DNUK
| | - Elizabeth L. Bell
- Renewable Resources and Enabling Sciences CenterNational Renewable Energy LaboratoryGoldenCOUSA
- BOTTLE ConsortiumGoldenCOUSA
| | - Anthony P. Green
- Department of Chemistry & Manchester Institute of BiotechnologyThe University of Manchester131 Princess StreetManchesterM1 7DNUK
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8
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Cribari MA, Unger MJ, Unarta IC, Ogorek AN, Huang X, Martell JD. Ultrahigh-Throughput Directed Evolution of Polymer-Degrading Enzymes Using Yeast Display. J Am Chem Soc 2023; 145:27380-27389. [PMID: 38051911 PMCID: PMC11058326 DOI: 10.1021/jacs.3c08291] [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] [Indexed: 12/07/2023]
Abstract
Enzymes that degrade synthetic polymers have attracted intense interest for eco-friendly plastic recycling. However, because enzymes did not evolve for the cleavage of abiotic polymers, directed evolution strategies are needed to enhance activity for plastic degradation. Previous directed evolution efforts relied on polymer degradation assays that were limited to screening ∼104 mutants. Here, we report a high-throughput yeast surface display platform to rapidly evaluate >107 enzyme mutants for increased activity in cleaving synthetic polymers. In this platform, individual yeast cells display distinct mutants, and enzyme activity is detected by a change in fluorescence upon the cleavage of a synthetic probe resembling a polymer of interest. Highly active mutants are isolated by fluorescence activated cell sorting and identified through DNA sequencing. To demonstrate this platform, we performed directed evolution of a polyethylene terephthalate (PET)-depolymerizing enzyme, leaf and branch compost cutinase (LCC). We identified activity-boosting mutations that substantially increased the kinetics of degradation of solid PET films. Biochemical assays and molecular dynamics (MD) simulations of the most active variants suggest that the H218Y mutation improves the binding of the enzyme to PET. Overall, this evolution platform increases the screening throughput of polymer-degrading enzymes by 3 orders of magnitude and identifies mutations that enhance kinetics for depolymerizing solid substrates.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mario A. Cribari
- Department of Chemistry, University of Wisconsin−Madison, Madison, Wisconsin 53706, United States
| | - Maxwell J. Unger
- Department of Chemistry, University of Wisconsin−Madison, Madison, Wisconsin 53706, United States
| | - Ilona C. Unarta
- Department of Chemistry, University of Wisconsin−Madison, Madison, Wisconsin 53706, United States
- Theoretical Chemistry Institute, Department of Chemistry, University of Wisconsin−Madison, Madison, Wisconsin 53706, United States
| | - Ashley N. Ogorek
- Department of Chemistry, University of Wisconsin−Madison, Madison, Wisconsin 53706, United States
| | - Xuhui Huang
- Department of Chemistry, University of Wisconsin−Madison, Madison, Wisconsin 53706, United States
- Theoretical Chemistry Institute, Department of Chemistry, University of Wisconsin−Madison, Madison, Wisconsin 53706, United States
| | - Jeffrey D. Martell
- Department of Chemistry, University of Wisconsin−Madison, Madison, Wisconsin 53706, United States
- Carbone Cancer Center, University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health, Madison, Wisconsin 53705, United States
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9
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Perez-Garcia P, Chow J, Costanzi E, Gurschke M, Dittrich J, Dierkes RF, Molitor R, Applegate V, Feuerriegel G, Tete P, Danso D, Thies S, Schumacher J, Pfleger C, Jaeger KE, Gohlke H, Smits SHJ, Schmitz RA, Streit WR. An archaeal lid-containing feruloyl esterase degrades polyethylene terephthalate. Commun Chem 2023; 6:193. [PMID: 37697032 PMCID: PMC10495362 DOI: 10.1038/s42004-023-00998-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/22/2023] [Accepted: 08/31/2023] [Indexed: 09/13/2023] Open
Abstract
Polyethylene terephthalate (PET) is a commodity polymer known to globally contaminate marine and terrestrial environments. Today, around 80 bacterial and fungal PET-active enzymes (PETases) are known, originating from four bacterial and two fungal phyla. In contrast, no archaeal enzyme had been identified to degrade PET. Here we report on the structural and biochemical characterization of PET46 (RLI42440.1), an archaeal promiscuous feruloyl esterase exhibiting degradation activity on semi-crystalline PET powder comparable to IsPETase and LCC (wildtypes), and higher activity on bis-, and mono-(2-hydroxyethyl) terephthalate (BHET and MHET). The enzyme, found by a sequence-based metagenome search, is derived from a non-cultivated, deep-sea Candidatus Bathyarchaeota archaeon. Biochemical characterization demonstrated that PET46 is a promiscuous, heat-adapted hydrolase. Its crystal structure was solved at a resolution of 1.71 Å. It shares the core alpha/beta-hydrolase fold with bacterial PETases, but contains a unique lid common in feruloyl esterases, which is involved in substrate binding. Thus, our study widens the currently known diversity of PET-hydrolyzing enzymes, by demonstrating PET depolymerization by a plant cell wall-degrading esterase.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pablo Perez-Garcia
- Department of Microbiology and Biotechnology, University of Hamburg, Hamburg, Germany
- Institute for General Microbiology, Christian-Albrechts-Universität zu Kiel, Kiel, Germany
| | - Jennifer Chow
- Department of Microbiology and Biotechnology, University of Hamburg, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Elisa Costanzi
- Center for Structural Studies (CSS), Heinrich Heine University Düsseldorf, Düsseldorf, Germany
| | - Marno Gurschke
- Department of Microbiology and Biotechnology, University of Hamburg, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Jonas Dittrich
- Institute for Pharmaceutical and Medicinal Chemistry, Heinrich Heine University Düsseldorf, Düsseldorf, Germany
| | - Robert F Dierkes
- Department of Microbiology and Biotechnology, University of Hamburg, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Rebecka Molitor
- Institute of Molecular Enzyme Technology (IMET), Heinrich Heine University Düsseldorf, Jülich, Germany
| | - Violetta Applegate
- Center for Structural Studies (CSS), Heinrich Heine University Düsseldorf, Düsseldorf, Germany
| | - Golo Feuerriegel
- Department of Microbiology and Biotechnology, University of Hamburg, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Prince Tete
- Department of Microbiology and Biotechnology, University of Hamburg, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Dominik Danso
- Department of Microbiology and Biotechnology, University of Hamburg, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Stephan Thies
- Institute of Molecular Enzyme Technology (IMET), Heinrich Heine University Düsseldorf, Jülich, Germany
| | - Julia Schumacher
- Center for Structural Studies (CSS), Heinrich Heine University Düsseldorf, Düsseldorf, Germany
| | - Christopher Pfleger
- Institute for Pharmaceutical and Medicinal Chemistry, Heinrich Heine University Düsseldorf, Düsseldorf, Germany
| | - Karl-Erich Jaeger
- Institute of Molecular Enzyme Technology (IMET), Heinrich Heine University Düsseldorf, Jülich, Germany
- Institute of Bio- and Geosciences IBG-1: Biotechnology, Forschungszentrum Jülich GmbH, Jülich, Germany
| | - Holger Gohlke
- Institute for Pharmaceutical and Medicinal Chemistry, Heinrich Heine University Düsseldorf, Düsseldorf, Germany
- Institute for Bio- and Geosciences (IBG-4: Bioinformatics), Forschungszentrum Jülich, Jülich, Germany
| | - Sander H J Smits
- Center for Structural Studies (CSS), Heinrich Heine University Düsseldorf, Düsseldorf, Germany
- Institute for Biochemistry, Heinrich Heine University Düsseldorf, Düsseldorf, Germany
| | - Ruth A Schmitz
- Institute for General Microbiology, Christian-Albrechts-Universität zu Kiel, Kiel, Germany.
| | - Wolfgang R Streit
- Department of Microbiology and Biotechnology, University of Hamburg, Hamburg, Germany.
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