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Taxeidis G, Nikolaivits E, Nikodinovic-Runic J, Topakas E. Mimicking the enzymatic plant cell wall hydrolysis mechanism for the degradation of polyethylene terephthalate. ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION (BARKING, ESSEX : 1987) 2024; 356:124347. [PMID: 38857840 DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2024.124347] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/20/2024] [Revised: 06/06/2024] [Accepted: 06/07/2024] [Indexed: 06/12/2024]
Abstract
Plastic pollution presents a global challenge, impacting ecosystems, wildlife, and economies. Polyethylene terephthalate (PET), widely used in products like bottles, significantly contributes to this issue due to poor waste collection. In recent years, there has been increasing interest in plant biomass-degrading enzymes for plastic breakdown, due to the structural and physicochemical similarities between natural and synthetic polymers. Filamentous fungi involved in hemicellulose degradation have developed a complex mode of action that includes not only enzymes but also biosurfactants; surface-active molecules that facilitate enzyme-substrate interactions. For this reason, this study aimed to mimic the mechanism of biomass degradation by repurposing plant cell wall degrading enzymes including a cutinase and three esterases to cooperatively contribute to PET degradation. Surfactants of different charge were also introduced in the reactions, as their role is similar to biosurfactants, altering the surface tension of the polymers and thus improving enzymes' accessibility. Notably, Fusarium oxysporum cutinase combined with anionic surfactant exhibited a 2.3- and 1.6-fold higher efficacy in hydrolyzing amorphous and semi-crystalline PET, respectively. When cutinase was combined with either of two ferulic acid esterases, it resulted in complete conversion of PET intermediate products to TPA, increasing the overall product release up to 1.9- fold in presence of surfactant. The combination of cutinase with a glucuronoyl esterase demonstrated significant potential in plastic depolymerization, increasing degradation yields in semi-crystalline PET by up to 1.4-fold. The approach of incorporating enzyme cocktails and surfactants emerge as an efficient solution for PET degradation in mild reaction conditions, with potential applications in eco-friendly plastic waste management.
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Affiliation(s)
- George Taxeidis
- Industrial Biotechnology & Biocatalysis Group, Biotechnology Laboratory, School of Chemical Engineering, National Technical University of Athens, Heroon Polytechniou 9, Zografou, 15772, Athens, Greece
| | - Efstratios Nikolaivits
- Industrial Biotechnology & Biocatalysis Group, Biotechnology Laboratory, School of Chemical Engineering, National Technical University of Athens, Heroon Polytechniou 9, Zografou, 15772, Athens, Greece
| | - Jasmina Nikodinovic-Runic
- Eco-Biotechnology & Drug Development Group, Laboratory for Microbial Molecular Genetics and Ecology, Institute of Molecular Genetics and Genetic Engineering, University of Belgrade, 11000, Belgrade, Serbia
| | - Evangelos Topakas
- Industrial Biotechnology & Biocatalysis Group, Biotechnology Laboratory, School of Chemical Engineering, National Technical University of Athens, Heroon Polytechniou 9, Zografou, 15772, Athens, Greece.
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Xu L, Li Z, Wang L, Xu Z, Zhang S, Zhang Q. Progress in polystyrene biodegradation by insect gut microbiota. World J Microbiol Biotechnol 2024; 40:143. [PMID: 38530548 DOI: 10.1007/s11274-024-03932-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/05/2024] [Accepted: 02/19/2024] [Indexed: 03/28/2024]
Abstract
Polystyrene (PS) is frequently used in the plastics industry. However, its structural stability and difficulty to break down lead to an abundance of plastic waste in the environment, resulting in micro-nano plastics (MNPs). As MNPs are severe hazards to both human and environmental health, it is crucial to develop innovative treatment technologies to degrade plastic waste. The biodegradation of plastics by insect gut microorganisms has gained attention as it is environmentally friendly, efficient, and safe. However, our knowledge of the biodegradation of PS is still limited. This review summarizes recent research advances on PS biodegradation by gut microorganisms/enzymes from insect larvae of different species, and schematic pathways of the degradation process are discussed in depth. Additionally, the prospect of using modern biotechnology, such as genetic engineering and systems biology, to identify novel PS-degrading microbes/functional genes/enzymes and to realize new strategies for PS biodegradation is highlighted. Challenges and limitations faced by the application of genetically engineered microorganisms (GEMs) and multiomics technologies in the field of plastic pollution bioremediation are also discussed. This review encourages the further exploration of the biodegradation of PS by insect gut microbes/enzymes, offering a cutting-edge perspective to identify PS biodegradation pathways and create effective biodegradation strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Luhui Xu
- College of Bioscience and Bioengineering, Jiangxi Agricultural University, Nanchang, 330045, China
| | - Zelin Li
- College of Bioscience and Bioengineering, Jiangxi Agricultural University, Nanchang, 330045, China
| | - Liuwei Wang
- College of Bioscience and Bioengineering, Jiangxi Agricultural University, Nanchang, 330045, China
| | - Zihang Xu
- College of Bioscience and Bioengineering, Jiangxi Agricultural University, Nanchang, 330045, China
| | - Shulin Zhang
- College of Bioscience and Bioengineering, Jiangxi Agricultural University, Nanchang, 330045, China
| | - Qinghua Zhang
- College of Bioscience and Bioengineering, Jiangxi Agricultural University, Nanchang, 330045, China.
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Mamtimin T, Han H, Khan A, Feng P, Zhang Q, Ma X, Fang Y, Liu P, Kulshrestha S, Shigaki T, Li X. Gut microbiome of mealworms (Tenebrio molitor Larvae) show similar responses to polystyrene and corn straw diets. MICROBIOME 2023; 11:98. [PMID: 37147715 PMCID: PMC10161430 DOI: 10.1186/s40168-023-01550-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/03/2022] [Accepted: 04/16/2023] [Indexed: 05/07/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Some insects can degrade both natural and synthetic plastic polymers, their host and gut microbes play crucial roles in this process. However, there is still a scientific gap in understanding how the insect adapted to the polystyrene (PS) diet from natural feed. In this study, we analyzed diet consumption, gut microbiota responses, and metabolic pathways of Tenebrio molitor larvae exposed to PS and corn straw (CS). RESULTS T. molitor larvae were incubated under controlled conditions (25 ± 1 °C, 75 ± 5% humidity) for 30 days by using PS foam with weight-, number-, and size-average molecular weight (Mw, Mn, and Mz) of 120.0, 73.2, and 150.7 kDa as a diet, respectively. The larvae exhibited lower PS consumption (32.5%) than CS (52.0%), and these diets had no adverse effects on their survival. The gut microbiota structures, metabolic pathways, and enzymatic profiles of PS- and CS-fed larvae showed similar responses. The gut microbiota of larvae analysis indicated Serratia sp., Staphylococcus sp., and Rhodococcus sp. were associated with both PS and CS diets. Metatranscriptomic analysis revealed that xenobiotics, aromatic compounds, and fatty acid degradation pathways were enriched in PS- and CS-fed groups; laccase-like multicopper oxidases, cytochrome P450, monooxygenase, superoxidase, and dehydrogenase were involved in lignin and PS degradation. Furthermore, the upregulated gene lac640 in both PS- and CS-fed groups was overexpressed in E. coli and exhibited PS and lignin degradation ability. CONCLUSIONS The high similarity of gut microbiomes adapted to biodegradation of PS and CS indicated the plastics-degrading ability of the T. molitor larvae originated through an ancient mechanism that degrades the natural lignocellulose. Video Abstract.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tursunay Mamtimin
- Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Cell Activities and Stress Adaptations, School of Life Science, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, China
| | - Huawen Han
- Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Cell Activities and Stress Adaptations, School of Life Science, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, China.
- State Key Laboratory of Grassland Agro-Ecosystems, Center for Grassland Microbiome, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, China.
| | - Aman Khan
- Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Cell Activities and Stress Adaptations, School of Life Science, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, China
| | - Pengya Feng
- Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Cell Activities and Stress Adaptations, School of Life Science, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, China
| | - Qing Zhang
- Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Cell Activities and Stress Adaptations, School of Life Science, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, China
| | - Xiaobiao Ma
- Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Cell Activities and Stress Adaptations, School of Life Science, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, China
| | - Yitian Fang
- State Key Laboratory of Microbial Metabolism, School of Life Sciences and Biotechnology, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China
| | - Pu Liu
- Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Cell Activities and Stress Adaptations, School of Life Science, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, China
| | - Saurabh Kulshrestha
- Faculty of Applied Sciences and Biotechnology, Shoolini University, Solan, India
| | - Toshiro Shigaki
- Graduate School of Agricultural and Life Sciences, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Xiangkai Li
- Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Cell Activities and Stress Adaptations, School of Life Science, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, China.
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