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Seong HJ, Kim H, Ko YJ, Yao Z, Baek SB, Kim NJ, Jang YS. Enhancing polyethylene degradation: a novel bioprocess approach using Acinetobacter nosocomialis pseudo-resting cells. Appl Microbiol Biotechnol 2024; 108:86. [PMID: 38189951 DOI: 10.1007/s00253-023-12930-5] [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: 08/01/2023] [Revised: 10/10/2023] [Accepted: 10/20/2023] [Indexed: 01/09/2024]
Abstract
Despite the discovery of several bacteria capable of interacting with polymers, the activity of the natural bacterial isolates is limited. Furthermore, there is a lack of knowledge regarding the development of bioprocesses for polyethylene (PE) degradation. Here, we report a bioprocess using pseudo-resting cells for efficient degradation of PE. The bacterial strain Acinetobacter nosocomialis was isolated from PE-containing landfills and characterized using low-density PE (LDPE) surface oxidation when incubated with LDPE. We optimized culture conditions to generate catalytic pseudo-resting cells of A. nosocomialis that are capable of degrading LDPE films in a bioreactor. After 28 days of bioreactor operation using pseudo-resting cells of A. nosocomialis, we observed the formation of holes on the PE film (39 holes per 217 cm2, a maximum diameter of 1440 μm). This study highlights the potential of bacteria as biocatalysts for the development of PE degradation processes. KEY POINTS: • New bioprocess has been proposed to degrade polyethylene (PE). • Process with pseudo-resting cells results in the formation of holes in PE film. • We demonstrated PE degradation using A. nosocomialis as a biocatalyst.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hyeon Jeong Seong
- Division of Applied Life Science (BK21 Four), Department of Applied Life Chemistry, Institute of Agriculture & Life Science (IALS), Gyeongsang National University, Jinju, 52828, Republic of Korea
| | - Hyejin Kim
- Division of Applied Life Science (BK21 Four), Department of Applied Life Chemistry, Institute of Agriculture & Life Science (IALS), Gyeongsang National University, Jinju, 52828, Republic of Korea
| | - Young-Joon Ko
- Department of Agricultural Biology, National Institute of Agriculture Sciences, Rural Development Administration, Wanju, 54875, Republic of Korea
| | - Zhuang Yao
- Division of Applied Life Science (BK21 Four), Department of Applied Life Chemistry, Institute of Agriculture & Life Science (IALS), Gyeongsang National University, Jinju, 52828, Republic of Korea
| | - Song-Bum Baek
- Transportation and Environment Bureau, Jinju City Hall, Jinju, 52789, Republic of Korea
| | - Nam-Jung Kim
- Department of Agricultural Biology, National Institute of Agriculture Sciences, Rural Development Administration, Wanju, 54875, Republic of Korea.
| | - Yu-Sin Jang
- Division of Applied Life Science (BK21 Four), Department of Applied Life Chemistry, Institute of Agriculture & Life Science (IALS), Gyeongsang National University, Jinju, 52828, Republic of Korea.
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2
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Ferreira-Filipe DA, Oliveira L, Paço A, Fernandes AJS, Costa FM, Duarte AC, Rocha-Santos T, Patrício Silva AL. Biodegradation of e-waste microplastics by Penicillium brevicompactum. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2024; 935:173334. [PMID: 38763191 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2024.173334] [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: 02/23/2024] [Revised: 05/15/2024] [Accepted: 05/16/2024] [Indexed: 05/21/2024]
Abstract
Electronic and electric waste (e-waste) management strategies often fall short in dealing with the plastic constituents of printed circuit boards (PCB). Some plastic materials from PCB, such as epoxy resins, may release contaminants, but neither potential environmental impact has been assessed nor mitigation strategies have been put forward. This study assessed the biodegradation of microplastics (1-2 mm in size) from PCB by the fungus Penicillium brevicompactum over 28 days, thus contributing to the discussion of mitigation strategies for decreasing the environmental impact of such plastics in the environment. The capacity of P. brevicompactum to induce microplastic fragmentation and degradation has been determined by the increased the number of smaller-sized particles and microplastic mass reduction (up to 75 % within 14 days), respectively. The occurrence of chain scission and oxidation of microplastics exposed to P. brevicompactum when compared with the control conditions (which occurred only after 28 days of exposure) can be observed. Furthermore, Attenuated Total Reflectance-Fourier Transform Infrared (ATR-FTIR) spectroscopy performed in dried biomass put in evidence an increase in the absorption intensities in regions that could be attributed to functional groups associated with carbohydrates. The results underline the potential role of the genus Penicillium, particularly P. brevicompactum, in the biodegradation of microplastics from PCB, thus providing the basis for further exploration of its potential for e-waste bioremediation and research on the underlying mechanisms for sustainable approaches to mitigate e-waste pollution.
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Affiliation(s)
- Diogo A Ferreira-Filipe
- Centre for Environmental and Marine Studies (CESAM) & Department of Chemistry, University of Aveiro, Portugal.
| | | | - Ana Paço
- Centre for Environmental and Marine Studies (CESAM) & Department of Chemistry, University of Aveiro, Portugal
| | | | | | - Armando C Duarte
- Centre for Environmental and Marine Studies (CESAM) & Department of Chemistry, University of Aveiro, Portugal
| | - Teresa Rocha-Santos
- Centre for Environmental and Marine Studies (CESAM) & Department of Chemistry, University of Aveiro, Portugal
| | - Ana L Patrício Silva
- Centre for Environmental and Marine Studies (CESAM) & Department of Biology, University of Aveiro, Portugal
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3
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Pires CS, Costa L, Barbosa SG, Sequeira JC, Cachetas D, Freitas JP, Martins G, Machado AV, Cavaleiro AJ, Salvador AF. Microplastics Biodegradation by Estuarine and Landfill Microbiomes. MICROBIAL ECOLOGY 2024; 87:88. [PMID: 38943017 PMCID: PMC11213754 DOI: 10.1007/s00248-024-02399-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/01/2024] [Accepted: 06/10/2024] [Indexed: 06/30/2024]
Abstract
Plastic pollution poses a worldwide environmental challenge, affecting wildlife and human health. Assessing the biodegradation capabilities of natural microbiomes in environments contaminated with microplastics is crucial for mitigating the effects of plastic pollution. In this work, we evaluated the potential of landfill leachate (LL) and estuarine sediments (ES) to biodegrade polyethylene (PE), polyethylene terephthalate (PET), and polycaprolactone (PCL), under aerobic, anaerobic, thermophilic, and mesophilic conditions. PCL underwent extensive aerobic biodegradation with LL (99 ± 7%) and ES (78 ± 3%) within 50-60 days. Under anaerobic conditions, LL degraded 87 ± 19% of PCL in 60 days, whereas ES showed minimal biodegradation (3 ± 0.3%). PE and PET showed no notable degradation. Metataxonomics results (16S rRNA sequencing) revealed the presence of highly abundant thermophilic microorganisms assigned to Coprothermobacter sp. (6.8% and 28% relative abundance in anaerobic and aerobic incubations, respectively). Coprothermobacter spp. contain genes encoding two enzymes, an esterase and a thermostable monoacylglycerol lipase, that can potentially catalyze PCL hydrolysis. These results suggest that Coprothermobacter sp. may be pivotal in landfill leachate microbiomes for thermophilic PCL biodegradation across varying conditions. The anaerobic microbial community was dominated by hydrogenotrophic methanogens assigned to Methanothermobacter sp. (21%), pointing at possible syntrophic interactions with Coprothermobacter sp. (a H2-producer) during PCL biodegradation. In the aerobic experiments, fungi dominated the eukaryotic microbial community (e.g., Exophiala (41%), Penicillium (17%), and Mucor (18%)), suggesting that aerobic PCL biodegradation by LL involves collaboration between fungi and bacteria. Our findings bring insights on the microbial communities and microbial interactions mediating plastic biodegradation, offering valuable perspectives for plastic pollution mitigation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cristina S Pires
- CEB - Centre of Biological Engineering, University of Minho, Braga, Portugal
| | - Luís Costa
- CEB - Centre of Biological Engineering, University of Minho, Braga, Portugal
| | - Sónia G Barbosa
- CEB - Centre of Biological Engineering, University of Minho, Braga, Portugal
- LABBELS - Associate Laboratory, Braga/Guimarães, Portugal
| | | | - Diogo Cachetas
- CEB - Centre of Biological Engineering, University of Minho, Braga, Portugal
| | - José P Freitas
- CEB - Centre of Biological Engineering, University of Minho, Braga, Portugal
| | - Gilberto Martins
- CEB - Centre of Biological Engineering, University of Minho, Braga, Portugal
- LABBELS - Associate Laboratory, Braga/Guimarães, Portugal
| | - Ana Vera Machado
- IPC - Institute for Polymers and Composites, University of Minho, Guimarães, Portugal
| | - Ana J Cavaleiro
- CEB - Centre of Biological Engineering, University of Minho, Braga, Portugal.
- LABBELS - Associate Laboratory, Braga/Guimarães, Portugal.
| | - Andreia F Salvador
- CEB - Centre of Biological Engineering, University of Minho, Braga, Portugal
- LABBELS - Associate Laboratory, Braga/Guimarães, Portugal
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4
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Enache AC, Grecu I, Samoila P. Polyethylene Terephthalate (PET) Recycled by Catalytic Glycolysis: A Bridge toward Circular Economy Principles. MATERIALS (BASEL, SWITZERLAND) 2024; 17:2991. [PMID: 38930360 PMCID: PMC11205646 DOI: 10.3390/ma17122991] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/20/2024] [Revised: 06/13/2024] [Accepted: 06/14/2024] [Indexed: 06/28/2024]
Abstract
Plastic pollution has escalated into a critical global issue, with production soaring from 2 million metric tons in 1950 to 400.3 million metric tons in 2022. The packaging industry alone accounts for nearly 44% of this production, predominantly utilizing polyethylene terephthalate (PET). Alarmingly, over 90% of the approximately 1 million PET bottles sold every minute end up in landfills or oceans, where they can persist for centuries. This highlights the urgent need for sustainable management and recycling solutions to mitigate the environmental impact of PET waste. To better understand PET's behavior and promote its management within a circular economy, we examined its chemical and physical properties, current strategies in the circular economy, and the most effective recycling methods available today. Advancing PET management within a circular economy framework by closing industrial loops has demonstrated benefits such as reduced landfill waste, minimized energy consumption, and conserved raw resources. To this end, we identified and examined various strategies based on R-imperatives (ranging from 3R to 10R), focusing on the latest approaches aimed at significantly reducing PET waste by 2040. Additionally, a comparison of PET recycling methods (including primary, secondary, tertiary, and quaternary recycling, along with the concepts of "zero-order" and biological recycling techniques) was envisaged. Particular attention was paid to the heterogeneous catalytic glycolysis, which stands out for its rapid reaction time (20-60 min), high monomer yields (>90%), ease of catalyst recovery and reuse, lower costs, and enhanced durability. Accordingly, the use of highly efficient oxide-based catalysts for PET glycolytic degradation is underscored as a promising solution for large-scale industrial applications.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Petrisor Samoila
- “Petru Poni” Institute of Macromolecular Chemistry, 41A Grigore Ghica Voda Alley, 700487 Iasi, Romania; (A.-C.E.); (I.G.)
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5
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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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6
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Parida M, Jena T, Mohanty S, Nayak SK. Advancing sustainable agriculture: Evaluation of Poly (lactic acid) (PLA) based mulch films and identification of biodegrading microorganisms among soil microbiota. Int J Biol Macromol 2024; 269:132085. [PMID: 38723836 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2024.132085] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/06/2023] [Revised: 04/22/2024] [Accepted: 05/02/2024] [Indexed: 05/30/2024]
Abstract
Non-biodegradable polyolefin based plastic mulch residues in agricultural fields after the end of a crop cycle have raised several concerns as an environmental pollutant in recent years. This study explores the potential of Poly (lactic acid) (PLA) and Poly (butylene adipate-co-terephthalate) (PBAT) based compostable films reactively blended with compatibilizers and chain extenders as a promising solution to environmental challenges associated with traditional plastic mulch films. Epoxidized soybean oil (ESO) and Epoxy-functionalized styrene acrylic copolymer (ESA) have been used as reactive compatibilizers and chain extenders respectively. In-depth analysis of the mechanical, thermal, and barrier properties of the developed films, revealed that the PLA/PBAT blend films at 75:25 weight ratio in the presence of 5 phr ESO and 0.5 phr ESA exhibit improved performance characteristics for application as mulch films. Furthermore, the films were subjected to 360-h UV exposure to gauge their stability under prolonged exposure, specifically investigating changes in the carbonyl index. Additionally, a rigorous real-time field trial of the mulch films spanning eight months with various crops was carried out to understand their performance in practical agricultural settings. The study also involved the identification of microorganisms responsible for the degradation of the developed mulch films employing 16S rRNA sequencing.
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Affiliation(s)
- Manmath Parida
- Central Institute of Petrochemicals Engineering and Technology (CIPET): SARP - LARPM, B-25, CNI Complex, Patia, Bhubaneswar, Odisha 751024, India
| | - Tapaswini Jena
- Central Institute of Petrochemicals Engineering and Technology (CIPET): SARP - LARPM, B-25, CNI Complex, Patia, Bhubaneswar, Odisha 751024, India
| | - Smita Mohanty
- Central Institute of Petrochemicals Engineering and Technology (CIPET): SARP - LARPM, B-25, CNI Complex, Patia, Bhubaneswar, Odisha 751024, India.
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7
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Peña-Montes C, Bermúdez-García E, Castro-Ochoa D, Vega-Pérez F, Esqueda-Domínguez K, Castro-Rodríguez JA, González-Canto A, Segoviano-Reyes L, Navarro-Ocaña A, Farrés A. ANCUT1, a novel thermoalkaline cutinase from Aspergillus nidulans and its application on hydroxycinnamic acids lipophilization. Biotechnol Lett 2024; 46:409-430. [PMID: 38416309 PMCID: PMC11055803 DOI: 10.1007/s10529-024-03467-2] [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: 09/15/2023] [Revised: 12/17/2023] [Accepted: 01/08/2024] [Indexed: 02/29/2024]
Abstract
One of the four cutinases encoded in the Aspergillus nidulans genome, ANCUT1, is described here. Culture conditions were evaluated, and it was found that this enzyme is produced only when cutin is present in the culture medium, unlike the previously described ANCUT2, with which it shares 62% amino acid identity. The differences between them include the fact that ANCUT1 is a smaller enzyme, with experimental molecular weight and pI values of 22 kDa and 6, respectively. It shows maximum activity at pH 9 and 60 °C under assayed conditions and retains more than 60% of activity after incubation for 1 h at 60 °C in a wide range of pH values (6-10) after incubations of 1 or 3 h. It has a higher activity towards medium-chain esters and can modify long-chain length hydroxylated fatty acids constituting cutin. Its substrate specificity properties allow the lipophilization of alkyl coumarates, valuable antioxidants and its thermoalkaline behavior, which competes favorably with other fungal cutinases, suggests it may be useful in many more applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carolina Peña-Montes
- Tecnológico Nacional de México/IT Veracruz, Unidad de Investigación y Desarrollo en Alimentos (UNIDA), Calzada Miguel Angel de Quevedo, 2779. Col. Formando Hogar, Veracruz, México, CP 91897
| | - Eva Bermúdez-García
- Departamento de Alimentos y Biotecnología, Facultad de Química, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México (UNAM), Ciudad Universitaria, CP 04510, Ciudad de México, Mexico
| | - Denise Castro-Ochoa
- Tecnológico Nacional de México/IT Mochis, Juan de Dios Batiz y 20 de Noviembre, CP 81259, Los Mochis, Sinaloa, Mexico
| | - Fernanda Vega-Pérez
- Departamento de Alimentos y Biotecnología, Facultad de Química, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México (UNAM), Ciudad Universitaria, CP 04510, Ciudad de México, Mexico
| | - Katia Esqueda-Domínguez
- Departamento de Alimentos y Biotecnología, Facultad de Química, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México (UNAM), Ciudad Universitaria, CP 04510, Ciudad de México, Mexico
| | - José Augusto Castro-Rodríguez
- Departamento de Alimentos y Biotecnología, Facultad de Química, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México (UNAM), Ciudad Universitaria, CP 04510, Ciudad de México, Mexico
| | - Augusto González-Canto
- Unidad de Medicina Experimental, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México (UNAM), Hospital General de México, Dr. Balmis, 148, CP 06726, Ciudad de México, Mexico
| | - Laura Segoviano-Reyes
- Departamento de Alimentos y Biotecnología, Facultad de Química, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México (UNAM), Ciudad Universitaria, CP 04510, Ciudad de México, Mexico
| | - Arturo Navarro-Ocaña
- Departamento de Alimentos y Biotecnología, Facultad de Química, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México (UNAM), Ciudad Universitaria, CP 04510, Ciudad de México, Mexico
| | - Amelia Farrés
- Departamento de Alimentos y Biotecnología, Facultad de Química, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México (UNAM), Ciudad Universitaria, CP 04510, Ciudad de México, Mexico.
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8
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Feng S, Xue M, Xie F, Zhao H, Xue Y. Characterization of Thermotoga maritima Esterase Capable of Hydrolyzing Bis(2-hydroxyethyl) Terephthalate. JOURNAL OF AGRICULTURAL AND FOOD CHEMISTRY 2024; 72:12045-12056. [PMID: 38753963 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jafc.4c01973] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/18/2024]
Abstract
The gene-encoding carboxylesterase (TM1022) from the hyperthermophilic bacterium Thermotoga maritima (T. maritima) was cloned and expressed in Escherichia coli Top10 and BL21 (DE3). Recombinant TM1022 showed the best activity at pH 8.0 and 85 °C and retained 57% activity after 8 h cultivation at 90 °C. TM1022 exhibited good stability at pH 6.0-9.0, maintaining 53% activity after incubation at pH 10.0 and 37 °C for 6 h. The esterase TM1022 exhibited the optimum thermo-alkali stability and kcat/Km (598.57 ± 19.97 s-1mM-1) for pN-C4. TM1022 hydrolyzed poly(ethylene terephthalate) (PET) degradation intermediates, such as bis(2-hydroxyethyl) terephthalate (BHET) and mono(2-hydroxyethyl) terephthalate (MHET). The Km, kcat, and kcat/Km values for BHET were 0.82 ± 0.01 mM, 2.20 ± 0.02 s-1, and 2.67 ± 0.02 mM-1 s-1, respectively; those for MHET were 2.43 ± 0.07 mM, 0.04 ± 0.001 s-1, and 0.02 ± 0.001 mM-1 s-1, respectively. When purified TM1022 was added to the cutinase BhrPETase, hydrolysis of PET from drinking water bottle tops produced pure terephthalic acids (TPA) with 166% higher yield than those obtained after 72 h of incubation with BhrPETase alone as control. The above findings demonstrate that the esterase TM1022 from T. maritima has substantial potential for depolymerizing PET into monomers for reuse.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sizhong Feng
- Department of Food Science and Nutrition, College of Food and Pharmaceutical Engineering, Nanjing Normal University, Nanjing 210023, PR China
| | - Mengke Xue
- Department of Food Science and Nutrition, College of Food and Pharmaceutical Engineering, Nanjing Normal University, Nanjing 210023, PR China
| | - Fang Xie
- Department of Food Science and Nutrition, College of Food and Pharmaceutical Engineering, Nanjing Normal University, Nanjing 210023, PR China
| | - Hongyang Zhao
- Department of Food Science and Nutrition, College of Food and Pharmaceutical Engineering, Nanjing Normal University, Nanjing 210023, PR China
| | - Yemin Xue
- Department of Food Science and Nutrition, College of Food and Pharmaceutical Engineering, Nanjing Normal University, Nanjing 210023, PR China
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9
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Roman VA, Crable BR, Wagner DN, Gryganskyi A, Zelik S, Cummings L, Hung CS, Nadeau LJ, Schratz L, Haridas S, Pangilinan J, Lipzen A, Na H, Yan M, Ng V, Grigoriev IV, Barlow D, Biffinger J, Kelley-Loughnane N, Crookes-Goodson WJ, Stamps B, Varaljay VA. Identification and recombinant expression of a cutinase from Papiliotrema laurentii that hydrolyzes natural and synthetic polyesters. Appl Environ Microbiol 2024; 90:e0169423. [PMID: 38624219 PMCID: PMC11205760 DOI: 10.1128/aem.01694-23] [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: 09/30/2023] [Accepted: 03/21/2024] [Indexed: 04/17/2024] Open
Abstract
Given the multitude of extracellular enzymes at their disposal, many of which are designed to degrade nature's polymers (lignin, cutin, cellulose, etc.), fungi are adept at targeting synthetic polyesters with similar chemical composition. Microbial-influenced deterioration of xenobiotic polymeric surfaces is an area of interest for material scientists as these are important for the conservation of the underlying structural materials. Here, we describe the isolation and characterization of the Papiliotrema laurentii 5307AH (P. laurentii) cutinase, Plcut1. P. laurentii is basidiomycete yeast with the ability to disperse Impranil-DLN (Impranil), a colloidal polyester polyurethane, in agar plates. To test whether the fungal factor involved in this clearing was a secreted enzyme, we screened the ability of P. laurentii culture supernatants to disperse Impranil. Using size exclusion chromatography (SEC), we isolated fractions that contained Impranil-clearing activity. These fractions harbored a single ~22 kD band, which was excised and subjected to peptide sequencing. Homology searches using the peptide sequences identified, revealed that the protein Papla1 543643 (Plcut1) displays similarities to serine esterase and cutinase family of proteins. Biochemical assays using recombinant Plcut1 confirmed that this enzyme has the capability to hydrolyze Impranil, soluble esterase substrates, and apple cutin. Finally, we confirmed the presence of the Plcut1 in culture supernatants using a custom antibody that specifically recognizes this protein. The work shown here supports a major role for the Plcut1 in the fungal degradation of natural polyesters and xenobiotic polymer surfaces.IMPORTANCEFungi play a vital role in the execution of a broad range of biological processes that drive ecosystem function through production of a diverse arsenal of enzymes. However, the universal reactivity of these enzymes is a current problem for the built environment and the undesired degradation of polymeric materials in protective coatings. Here, we report the identification and characterization of a hydrolase from Papiliotrema laurentii 5307AH, an aircraft-derived fungal isolate found colonizing a biodeteriorated polymer-coated surface. We show that P. laurentii secretes a cutinase capable of hydrolyzing soluble esters as well as ester-based compounds forming solid surface coatings. These findings indicate that this fungus plays a significant role in biodeterioration through the production of a cutinase adept at degrading ester-based polymers, some of which form the backbone of protective surface coatings. The work shown here provides insights into the mechanisms employed by fungi to degrade xenobiotic polymers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Victor A. Roman
- Soft Matter Materials Branch, Materials and Manufacturing Directorate, Air Force Research Laboratory, Wright-Patterson AFB, Ohio, USA
- UES, Inc., Dayton, Ohio, USA
| | - Bryan R. Crable
- Soft Matter Materials Branch, Materials and Manufacturing Directorate, Air Force Research Laboratory, Wright-Patterson AFB, Ohio, USA
- UES, Inc., Dayton, Ohio, USA
| | - Dominique N. Wagner
- Soft Matter Materials Branch, Materials and Manufacturing Directorate, Air Force Research Laboratory, Wright-Patterson AFB, Ohio, USA
- UES, Inc., Dayton, Ohio, USA
| | - Andrii Gryganskyi
- Soft Matter Materials Branch, Materials and Manufacturing Directorate, Air Force Research Laboratory, Wright-Patterson AFB, Ohio, USA
- UES, Inc., Dayton, Ohio, USA
| | - Stephen Zelik
- Soft Matter Materials Branch, Materials and Manufacturing Directorate, Air Force Research Laboratory, Wright-Patterson AFB, Ohio, USA
- UES, Inc., Dayton, Ohio, USA
| | - Logan Cummings
- Soft Matter Materials Branch, Materials and Manufacturing Directorate, Air Force Research Laboratory, Wright-Patterson AFB, Ohio, USA
- UES, Inc., Dayton, Ohio, USA
| | - Chia S. Hung
- Soft Matter Materials Branch, Materials and Manufacturing Directorate, Air Force Research Laboratory, Wright-Patterson AFB, Ohio, USA
| | - Lloyd J. Nadeau
- Soft Matter Materials Branch, Materials and Manufacturing Directorate, Air Force Research Laboratory, Wright-Patterson AFB, Ohio, USA
| | - Lucas Schratz
- Chemistry Department, University of Dayton, Dayton, Ohio, USA
| | - Sajeet Haridas
- U.S. Department of Energy Joint Genome Institute, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Berkeley, California, USA
| | - Jasmyn Pangilinan
- U.S. Department of Energy Joint Genome Institute, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Berkeley, California, USA
| | - Anna Lipzen
- U.S. Department of Energy Joint Genome Institute, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Berkeley, California, USA
| | - Hyunsoo Na
- U.S. Department of Energy Joint Genome Institute, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Berkeley, California, USA
| | - Mi Yan
- U.S. Department of Energy Joint Genome Institute, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Berkeley, California, USA
| | - Vivian Ng
- U.S. Department of Energy Joint Genome Institute, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Berkeley, California, USA
| | - Igor V. Grigoriev
- U.S. Department of Energy Joint Genome Institute, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Berkeley, California, USA
- Department of Plant and Microbial Biology, University of California Berkeley, Berkeley, California, USA
| | | | | | - Nancy Kelley-Loughnane
- Soft Matter Materials Branch, Materials and Manufacturing Directorate, Air Force Research Laboratory, Wright-Patterson AFB, Ohio, USA
| | | | - Blake Stamps
- Soft Matter Materials Branch, Materials and Manufacturing Directorate, Air Force Research Laboratory, Wright-Patterson AFB, Ohio, USA
| | - Vanessa A. Varaljay
- Soft Matter Materials Branch, Materials and Manufacturing Directorate, Air Force Research Laboratory, Wright-Patterson AFB, Ohio, USA
- The Ohio State University, Infectious Diseases Institute, Columbus, Ohio, USA
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10
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Ren T, Zhan H, Xu H, Chen L, Shen W, Xu Y, Zhao D, Shao Y, Wang Y. Recycling and high-value utilization of polyethylene terephthalate wastes: A review. ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH 2024; 249:118428. [PMID: 38325788 DOI: 10.1016/j.envres.2024.118428] [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: 10/11/2023] [Revised: 01/31/2024] [Accepted: 02/04/2024] [Indexed: 02/09/2024]
Abstract
Polyethelene terephthalate (PET) is a well-known thermoplastic, and recycling PET waste is important for the natural environment and human health. This study provides a comprehensive overview of the recycling and reuse of PET waste through energy recovery and physical, chemical, and biological recycling. This article summarizes the recycling methods and the high-value products derived from PET waste, specifically detailing the research progress on regenerated PET prepared by the mechanical recycling of fiber/yarn, fabric, and composite materials, and introduces the application of PET nanofibers recycled by physical dissolution and electrospinning in fields such as filtration, adsorption, electronics, and antibacterial materials. This article explains the energy recovery of PET through thermal decomposition and comprehensively discusses various chemical recycling methods, including the reaction mechanisms, catalysts, conversion efficiencies, and reaction products, with a brief introduction to PET biodegradation using hydrolytic enzymes provided. The analysis and comparison of various recycling methods indicated that the mechanical recycling method yielded PET products with a wide range of applications in composite materials. Electrospinning is a highly promising recycling strategy for fabricating recycled PET nanofibers. Compared to other methods, physical recycling has advantages such as low cost, low energy consumption, high value, simple processing, and environmental friendliness, making it the preferred choice for the recycling and high-value utilization of waste PET.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tianxiang Ren
- Key Laboratory of Clean Dyeing and Finishing Technology of Zhejiang Province, Zhejiang Sub-center of National Carbon Fiber Engineering Technology Research Center, Shaoxing Sub-center of National Engineering Research Center for Fiber-based Composites, Shaoxing Key Laboratory of High Performance fibers & products, College of Textile and Garment, Shaoxing University, Shaoxing, 312000, China
| | - Haihua Zhan
- Key Laboratory of Clean Dyeing and Finishing Technology of Zhejiang Province, Zhejiang Sub-center of National Carbon Fiber Engineering Technology Research Center, Shaoxing Sub-center of National Engineering Research Center for Fiber-based Composites, Shaoxing Key Laboratory of High Performance fibers & products, College of Textile and Garment, Shaoxing University, Shaoxing, 312000, China
| | - Huaizhong Xu
- Department of Biobased Materials Science, Kyoto Institute of Technology, Matsugasaki, Sakyo-Ku, Kyoto, 606-8585, Japan
| | - Lifeng Chen
- Shaoxing Baojing Composite Materials Co., Ltd., Shaoxing, 312000, China
| | - Wei Shen
- Shaoxing Baojing Composite Materials Co., Ltd., Shaoxing, 312000, China
| | - Yudong Xu
- Zhejiang Provincial Innovation Center of Advanced Textile Technology, Shaoxing, 312000, China
| | - Defang Zhao
- Key Laboratory of Clean Dyeing and Finishing Technology of Zhejiang Province, Zhejiang Sub-center of National Carbon Fiber Engineering Technology Research Center, Shaoxing Sub-center of National Engineering Research Center for Fiber-based Composites, Shaoxing Key Laboratory of High Performance fibers & products, College of Textile and Garment, Shaoxing University, Shaoxing, 312000, China; School of Materials Science and Engineering, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 310058, China; Hailiang Group Co., Ltd., Hangzhou, 310000, China.
| | - Yuanyi Shao
- College of Textiles, Donghua University, Shanghai, 201620, China.
| | - Yongtao Wang
- School of Medicine, Shanghai University, Shanghai, 200444, China.
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11
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Wu Y, Hu Q, Che Y, Niu Z. Opportunities and challenges for plastic depolymerization by biomimetic catalysis. Chem Sci 2024; 15:6200-6217. [PMID: 38699266 PMCID: PMC11062090 DOI: 10.1039/d4sc00070f] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/04/2024] [Accepted: 03/20/2024] [Indexed: 05/05/2024] Open
Abstract
Plastic waste has imposed significant burdens on the environment. Chemical recycling allows for repeated regeneration of plastics without deterioration in quality, but often requires harsh reaction conditions, thus being environmentally unfriendly. Enzymatic catalysis offers a promising solution for recycling under mild conditions, but it faces inherent limitations such as poor stability, high cost, and narrow substrate applicability. Biomimetic catalysis may provide a new avenue by combining high enzyme-like activity with the stability of inorganic materials. Biomimetic catalysis has demonstrated great potential in biomass conversion and has recently shown promising progress in plastic degradation. This perspective discusses biomimetic catalysis for plastic degradation from two perspectives: the imitation of the active centers and the imitation of the substrate-binding clefts. Given the chemical similarity between biomass and plastics, relevant work is also included in the discussion to draw inspiration. We conclude this perspective by highlighting the challenges and opportunities in achieving sustainable plastic recycling via a biomimetic approach.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yanfen Wu
- State Key Laboratory of Chemical Engineering, Department of Chemical Engineering, Tsinghua University Beijing 100084 China
| | - Qikun Hu
- State Key Laboratory of Chemical Engineering, Department of Chemical Engineering, Tsinghua University Beijing 100084 China
| | - Yizhen Che
- State Key Laboratory of Chemical Engineering, Department of Chemical Engineering, Tsinghua University Beijing 100084 China
| | - Zhiqiang Niu
- State Key Laboratory of Chemical Engineering, Department of Chemical Engineering, Tsinghua University Beijing 100084 China
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12
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Mishra R, Modi A, Pandit R, Sadhwani J, Joshi C, Patel AK. Cloning and characterization of FMN-dependent azoreductases from textile industry effluent identified through metagenomic sequencing. JOURNAL OF THE AIR & WASTE MANAGEMENT ASSOCIATION (1995) 2024; 74:335-344. [PMID: 38407923 DOI: 10.1080/10962247.2024.2322513] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/30/2023] [Accepted: 02/19/2024] [Indexed: 02/27/2024]
Abstract
Azo dyes, when released untreated in the environment, cause detrimental effects on flora and fauna. Azoreductases are enzymes capable of cleaving commercially used azo dyes, sometimes in less toxic by-products which can be further degraded via synergistic microbial cometabolism. In this study, azoreductases encoded by FMN1 and FMN2 genes were screened from metagenome shotgun sequences generated from the samples of textile dye industries' effluents, cloned, expressed, and evaluated for their azo dye decolorization efficacy. At pH 7 and 45°C temperature, both recombinant enzymes FMN1 and FMN2 were able to decolorize methyl red at 20 and 100 ppm concentrations, respectively. FMN2 was found to be more efficient in decolorization/degradation of methyl red than FMN1. This study offers valuable insights into the possible application of azoreductases to reduce the environmental damage caused by azo dyes, with the hope of contributing to sustainable and eco-friendly practices for the environment management. This enzymatic approach offers a promising solution for the bioremediation of textile industrial effluents. However, the study acknowledges the need for further process optimization to enhance the efficacy of these enzymes in large-scale applications.Implications: The study underscores the environmental hazards associated with untreated release of azo dyes into the environment and emphasizes the potential of azoreductases, specifically those encoded by FMN1 and FMN2 genes, to mitigate the detrimental effects. The study emphasizes the ongoing commitment to refining and advancing the enzymatic approach for the bioremediation of azo dye-containing effluents, marking a positive stride toward more sustainable industrial practices.
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Affiliation(s)
- Roshani Mishra
- Gujarat Biotechnology Research Centre (GBRC), Department of Science and Technology, Government of Gujarat, Gandhinagar, India
| | - Akhilesh Modi
- Gujarat Biotechnology Research Centre (GBRC), Department of Science and Technology, Government of Gujarat, Gandhinagar, India
| | - Ramesh Pandit
- Gujarat Biotechnology Research Centre (GBRC), Department of Science and Technology, Government of Gujarat, Gandhinagar, India
| | - Jyoti Sadhwani
- Gujarat Biotechnology Research Centre (GBRC), Department of Science and Technology, Government of Gujarat, Gandhinagar, India
| | - Chaitanya Joshi
- Gujarat Biotechnology Research Centre (GBRC), Department of Science and Technology, Government of Gujarat, Gandhinagar, India
| | - Amrutlal K Patel
- Gujarat Biotechnology Research Centre (GBRC), Department of Science and Technology, Government of Gujarat, Gandhinagar, India
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13
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Yao F, Wu Z, Gu Y, Di Y, Liu Y, Srinivasan V, Lian C, Li Y. Acetylated nanocellulose reinforced hydroxypropyl starch acetate realizing polypropylene replacement for green packaging application. Carbohydr Polym 2024; 331:121886. [PMID: 38388040 DOI: 10.1016/j.carbpol.2024.121886] [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: 12/06/2023] [Revised: 01/12/2024] [Accepted: 01/27/2024] [Indexed: 02/24/2024]
Abstract
The use of natural starch as a replacement for petroleum-based packaging materials is limited due to its poor processability, weak mechanical properties, and strong moisture sensitivity. To address these limitations, this study adopts molecular design of hydroxypropylation and acetylation to sequentially modify natural starch, and material design of introducing acetylated cellulose nanofibers (ACNF) into the starch matrix to reinforce the material. Hydroxypropylation decreased the interaction force between the starch molecular chains, thereby reducing the glass transition temperature. Subsequent acetylation introduced hydrophobic acetyl groups that disrupted intermolecular hydrogen bonds, enhancing the mobility of the starch molecular chain, and endowed the hydroxypropyl starch acetate (HPSA) with excellent thermoplastic processability (melt index of 7.12 g/10 min) without the need for plasticizers and notable water resistance (water absorption rate of 3.0 %). The introduction of ACNF generated a strong interaction between HPSA chains, promoting the derived ACNF-HPSA to exhibit excellent mechanical strength, such as high impact strength of 2.1 kJ/m2, tensile strength of 22.89 MPa, elasticity modulus of 813.22 MPa, flexural strength of 24.18 MPa and flexural modulus of 1367.88 MPa. Its overall performance even surpassed that of polypropylene (PP) plastic, making it a potential alternative material for PP-based packaging materials.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fengbiao Yao
- Key Laboratory of State Forestry Administration for Silviculture of the Lower Yellow River, College of Forestry, Shandong Agricultural University, Tai'an 271018, China
| | - Zhiqiang Wu
- Key Laboratory of Agricultural Film Application of Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, College of Chemistry and Material Science, Shandong Agricultural University, Tai'an 271018,China
| | - Yongsheng Gu
- Key Laboratory of State Forestry Administration for Silviculture of the Lower Yellow River, College of Forestry, Shandong Agricultural University, Tai'an 271018, China
| | - Yong Di
- Taian Cellulose Ether Technology Co. Ltd., Tai'an 271000, China
| | - Yiliang Liu
- Key Laboratory of State Forestry Administration for Silviculture of the Lower Yellow River, College of Forestry, Shandong Agricultural University, Tai'an 271018, China
| | - Vennila Srinivasan
- Department of Polymer Science, University of Madras, Guindy Campus, Chennai 600025, India
| | - Chenglong Lian
- Key Laboratory of State Forestry Administration for Silviculture of the Lower Yellow River, College of Forestry, Shandong Agricultural University, Tai'an 271018, China; Shandong Xingang Enterprise Group Co., Ltd., Linyi 276013, China.
| | - Yongfeng Li
- Key Laboratory of State Forestry Administration for Silviculture of the Lower Yellow River, College of Forestry, Shandong Agricultural University, Tai'an 271018, China; Key Laboratory of Agricultural Film Application of Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, College of Chemistry and Material Science, Shandong Agricultural University, Tai'an 271018,China.
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14
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He L, Ding J, Yang SS, Zang YN, Pang JW, Xing D, Zhang LY, Ren N, Wu WM. Molecular-Weight-Dependent Degradation of Plastics: Deciphering Host-Microbiome Synergy Biodegradation of High-Purity Polypropylene Microplastics by Mealworms. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY 2024; 58:6647-6658. [PMID: 38563431 DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.3c06954] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/04/2024]
Abstract
The biodegradation of polypropylene (PP), a highly persistent nonhydrolyzable polymer, by Tenebrio molitor has been confirmed using commercial PP microplastics (MPs) (Mn 26.59 and Mw 187.12 kDa). This confirmation was based on the reduction of the PP mass, change in molecular weight (MW), and a positive Δδ13C in the residual PP. A MW-dependent biodegradation mechanism was investigated using five high-purity PP MPs, classified into low (0.83 and 6.20 kDa), medium (50.40 and 108.0 kDa), and high (575.0 kDa) MW categories to access the impact of MW on the depolymerization pattern and associated gene expression of gut bacteria and the larval host. The larvae can depolymerize/biodegrade PP polymers with high MW although the consumption rate and weight losses increased, and survival rates declined with increasing PP MW. This pattern is similar to observations with polystyrene (PS) and polyethylene (PE), i.e., both Mn and Mw decreased after being fed low MW PP, while Mn and/or Mw increased after high MW PP was fed. The gut microbiota exhibited specific bacteria associations, such as Kluyvera sp. and Pediococcus sp. for high MW PP degradation, Acinetobacter sp. for medium MW PP, and Bacillus sp. alongside three other bacteria for low MW PP metabolism. In the host transcriptome, digestive enzymes and plastic degradation-related bacterial enzymes were up-regulated after feeding on PP depending on different MWs. The T. molitor host exhibited both defensive function and degradation capability during the biodegradation of plastics, with high MW PP showing a relatively negative impact on the larvae.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lei He
- State Key Laboratory of Urban Water Resource and Environment, School of Environment, Harbin Institute of Technology, Harbin 150090, China
- CAS Key Laboratory of Urban Pollutant Conversion, Department of Environmental Science and Engineering, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei 230026, China
| | - Jie Ding
- State Key Laboratory of Urban Water Resource and Environment, School of Environment, Harbin Institute of Technology, Harbin 150090, China
| | - Shan-Shan Yang
- State Key Laboratory of Urban Water Resource and Environment, School of Environment, Harbin Institute of Technology, Harbin 150090, China
| | - Ya-Ni Zang
- State Key Laboratory of Urban Water Resource and Environment, School of Environment, Harbin Institute of Technology, Harbin 150090, China
| | - Ji-Wei Pang
- CECEP Digital Technology Co., Ltd., China Energy Conservation and Environmental Protection Group, Beijing 100096, China
| | - Defeng Xing
- State Key Laboratory of Urban Water Resource and Environment, School of Environment, Harbin Institute of Technology, Harbin 150090, China
| | - Lu-Yan Zhang
- School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Yancheng Institute of Technology, Yancheng 224051, China
| | - Nanqi Ren
- State Key Laboratory of Urban Water Resource and Environment, School of Environment, Harbin Institute of Technology, Harbin 150090, China
| | - Wei-Min Wu
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, William & Cloy Codiga Resource Recovery Center, Stanford University, Stanford, California 94305, United States
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15
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Surana M, Pattanayak DS, Yadav V, Singh VK, Pal D. An insight decipher on photocatalytic degradation of microplastics: Mechanism, limitations, and future outlook. ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH 2024; 247:118268. [PMID: 38244970 DOI: 10.1016/j.envres.2024.118268] [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: 09/27/2023] [Revised: 01/15/2024] [Accepted: 01/18/2024] [Indexed: 01/22/2024]
Abstract
Plastic material manufacturing and buildup over the past 50 years has significantly increased pollution levels. Microplastics (MPs) and non-biodegradable residual plastic films have become the two most pressing environmental issues among the numerous types of plastic pollution. These tiny plastic flakes enter water systems from a variety of sources, contaminating the water. Since MPs can be consumed by people and aquatic species and eventually make their way into the food chain, their presence in the environment poses a serious concern. Traditional technologies can remove MPs to some extent, but their functional groups, stable covalent bonds, and hydrophobic nature make them difficult to eliminate completely. The urgent need to develop a sustainable solution to the worldwide contamination caused by MPs has led to the exploration of various techniques. Advanced oxidation processes (AOPs) such as photo-catalytic oxidation, photo-degradation, and electrochemical oxidation have been investigated. Among these, photocatalysis stands out as the most promising method for degrading MPs. Photocatalysis is an environmentally friendly process that utilizes light energy to facilitate a chemical reaction, breaking down MPs into carbon dioxide and water-soluble hydrocarbons under aqueous conditions. In photocatalysis, semiconductors act as photocatalysts by absorbing energy from a light source, becoming excited, and generating reactive oxygen species (ROS). These ROS, including hydroxyl radicals (•OH) and superoxide ions ( [Formula: see text] ), play a crucial role in the degradation of MPs. This extensive review provides a detailed exploration of the mechanisms and processes underlying the photocatalytic removal of MPs, emphasizing its potential as an efficient and environmentally friendly approach to address the issue of plastic pollution.
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Affiliation(s)
- Madhu Surana
- Department of Chemical Engineering, National Institute of Technology Raipur, Raipur, 492010, Chhattisgarh, India
| | - Dhruti Sundar Pattanayak
- Department of Chemical Engineering, National Institute of Technology Raipur, Raipur, 492010, Chhattisgarh, India
| | - Venkteshwar Yadav
- Department of Chemical Engineering, National Institute of Technology Raipur, Raipur, 492010, Chhattisgarh, India
| | - V K Singh
- Department of Chemical Engineering, National Institute of Technology Raipur, Raipur, 492010, Chhattisgarh, India
| | - Dharm Pal
- Department of Chemical Engineering, National Institute of Technology Raipur, Raipur, 492010, Chhattisgarh, India.
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16
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Zheng L, Wang M, Li Y, Xiong Y, Wu C. Recycling and Degradation of Polyamides. Molecules 2024; 29:1742. [PMID: 38675560 PMCID: PMC11052090 DOI: 10.3390/molecules29081742] [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: 03/08/2024] [Revised: 03/31/2024] [Accepted: 04/10/2024] [Indexed: 04/28/2024] Open
Abstract
As one of the five major engineering plastics, polyamide brings many benefits to humans in the fields of transportation, clothing, entertainment, health, and more. However, as the production of polyamide increases year by year, the pollution problems it causes are becoming increasingly severe. This article reviews the current recycling and treatment processes of polyamide, such as chemical, mechanical, and energy recovery, and degradation methods such as thermal oxidation, photooxidation, enzyme degradation, etc. Starting from the synthesis mechanism of polyamide, it discusses the advantages and disadvantages of different treatment methods of polyamide to obtain more environmentally friendly and economical treatment schemes. Finding enzymes that can degrade high-molecular-weight polyamides, exploring the recovery of polyamides under mild conditions, synthesizing environmentally degradable polyamides through copolymerization or molecular design, and finally preparing degradable bio-based polyamides may be the destination of polyamide.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lin Zheng
- Hubei Provincial Key Laboratory of Green Materials for Light Industry, Collaborative Innovation Center of Green Light-Weight Materials and Processing, New Materials and Green Manufacturing Talent Introduction and Innovation Demonstration Base, School of Materials and Chemical Engineering, Hubei University of Technology, Wuhan 430068, China; (L.Z.); (M.W.); (Y.L.); (Y.X.)
| | - Mengjin Wang
- Hubei Provincial Key Laboratory of Green Materials for Light Industry, Collaborative Innovation Center of Green Light-Weight Materials and Processing, New Materials and Green Manufacturing Talent Introduction and Innovation Demonstration Base, School of Materials and Chemical Engineering, Hubei University of Technology, Wuhan 430068, China; (L.Z.); (M.W.); (Y.L.); (Y.X.)
| | - Yaoqin Li
- Hubei Provincial Key Laboratory of Green Materials for Light Industry, Collaborative Innovation Center of Green Light-Weight Materials and Processing, New Materials and Green Manufacturing Talent Introduction and Innovation Demonstration Base, School of Materials and Chemical Engineering, Hubei University of Technology, Wuhan 430068, China; (L.Z.); (M.W.); (Y.L.); (Y.X.)
| | - Yan Xiong
- Hubei Provincial Key Laboratory of Green Materials for Light Industry, Collaborative Innovation Center of Green Light-Weight Materials and Processing, New Materials and Green Manufacturing Talent Introduction and Innovation Demonstration Base, School of Materials and Chemical Engineering, Hubei University of Technology, Wuhan 430068, China; (L.Z.); (M.W.); (Y.L.); (Y.X.)
- Hubei Longzhong Laboratory, Xiangyang 441000, China
| | - Chonggang Wu
- Hubei Provincial Key Laboratory of Green Materials for Light Industry, Collaborative Innovation Center of Green Light-Weight Materials and Processing, New Materials and Green Manufacturing Talent Introduction and Innovation Demonstration Base, School of Materials and Chemical Engineering, Hubei University of Technology, Wuhan 430068, China; (L.Z.); (M.W.); (Y.L.); (Y.X.)
- Hubei Longzhong Laboratory, Xiangyang 441000, China
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17
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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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18
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Sathiyabama M, Boomija RV, Sathiyamoorthy T, Mathivanan N, Balaji R. Mycodegradation of low-density polyethylene by Cladosporium sphaerospermum, isolated from platisphere. Sci Rep 2024; 14:8351. [PMID: 38594512 PMCID: PMC11004025 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-024-59032-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/21/2023] [Accepted: 04/05/2024] [Indexed: 04/11/2024] Open
Abstract
Plastic accumulation is a severe threat to the environment due to its resistivity to thermal, mechanical and biological processes. In recent years, microbial degradation of plastic waste disposal is of interest because of its eco-friendly nature. In this study, a total of 33 fungi were isolated from the plastisphere and out of which 28 fungal species showed halo zone of clearance in agarized LDPE media. The fungus showing highest zone of clearance was further used to evaluate its degradation potential. Based on morphological and molecular technique, the fungus was identified as Cladosporium sphaerospermum. The biodegradation of LDPE by C. sphaerospermum was evaluated by various methods. The exposure of LDPE with C. sphaerospermum resulted in weight loss (15.23%) in seven days, higher reduction rate (0.0224/day) and lower half-life (30.93 days). FTIR analysis showed changes in functional group and increased carbonyl index in LDPE treated with C. sphaerospermum. SEMimages evidenced the formation of pits, surface aberrations and grooves on the LDPE film treated with the fungus whereas the untreated control LDPE film showed no change. AFM analysis confirmed the surface changes and roughness in fungus treated LDPE film. This might be due to the extracellular lignolytic enzymes secreted by C. sphaerospermum grown on LDPE. The degradation of polyethylene by Short chain alkanes such as dodecane, hexasiloxane and silane were identified in the extract of fungus incubated with LDPE film through GC-MS analysis which might be due to the degradation of LDPE film by C. sphaerospermum. This was the first report on the LDPE degradation by C. sphaerospermum in very short duration which enables green scavenging of plastic wastes.
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Affiliation(s)
- M Sathiyabama
- Department of Botany, School of Life Sciences, Bharathidasan University, Tiruchirappalli, Tamil Nadu, 620 024, India.
| | - R V Boomija
- Department of Botany, School of Life Sciences, Bharathidasan University, Tiruchirappalli, Tamil Nadu, 620 024, India
| | - T Sathiyamoorthy
- CAS in Botany, University of Madras, Chennai, Tamil Nadu, 600025, India
| | - N Mathivanan
- CAS in Botany, University of Madras, Chennai, Tamil Nadu, 600025, India
| | - R Balaji
- CAS in Botany, University of Madras, Chennai, Tamil Nadu, 600025, India
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19
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Serrano‐Aguirre L, Prieto MA. Can bioplastics always offer a truly sustainable alternative to fossil-based plastics? Microb Biotechnol 2024; 17:e14458. [PMID: 38568795 PMCID: PMC10990045 DOI: 10.1111/1751-7915.14458] [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: 02/12/2024] [Revised: 03/08/2024] [Accepted: 03/14/2024] [Indexed: 04/05/2024] Open
Abstract
Bioplastics, comprised of bio-based and/or biodegradable polymers, have the potential to play a crucial role in the transition towards a sustainable circular economy. The use of biodegradable polymers not only leads to reduced greenhouse gas emissions but also might address the problem of plastic waste persisting in the environment, especially when removal is challenging. Nevertheless, biodegradable plastics should not be considered as substitutes for proper waste management practices, given that their biodegradability strongly depends on environmental conditions. Among the challenges hindering the sustainable implementation of bioplastics in the market, the development of effective downstream recycling routes is imperative, given the increasing production volumes of these materials. Here, we discuss about the most advisable end-of-life scenarios for bioplastics. Various recycling strategies, including mechanical, chemical or biological (both enzymatic and microbial) approaches, should be considered. Employing enzymes as biocatalysts emerges as a more selective and environmentally friendly alternative to chemical recycling, allowing the production of new bioplastics and added value and high-quality products. Other pending concerns for industrial implementation of bioplastics include misinformation among end users, the lack of a standardised bioplastic labelling, unclear life cycle assessment guidelines and the need for higher financial investments. Although further research and development efforts are essential to foster the sustainable and widespread application of bioplastics, significant strides have already been made in this direction.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lara Serrano‐Aguirre
- Polymer Biotechnology Group, Department of Plant and Microbial Biotechnology, Biological Research Centre Margarita SalasSpanish National Research Council (CIB‐CSIC)MadridSpain
- Interdisciplinary Platform for Sustainable Plastics Towards a Circular Economy‐CSIC (SusPlast‐CSIC)MadridSpain
| | - M. Auxiliadora Prieto
- Polymer Biotechnology Group, Department of Plant and Microbial Biotechnology, Biological Research Centre Margarita SalasSpanish National Research Council (CIB‐CSIC)MadridSpain
- Interdisciplinary Platform for Sustainable Plastics Towards a Circular Economy‐CSIC (SusPlast‐CSIC)MadridSpain
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20
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Singh P, Lau CSS, Siah SY, Chua KO, Ting ASY. Microbial degradation of low-density polyethylene, polyethylene terephthalate, and polystyrene by novel isolates from plastic-polluted environment. Arch Microbiol 2024; 206:188. [PMID: 38519709 DOI: 10.1007/s00203-024-03895-8] [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: 09/27/2023] [Revised: 02/10/2024] [Accepted: 02/11/2024] [Indexed: 03/25/2024]
Abstract
Biodegradation is an eco-friendly measure to address plastic pollution. This study screened four bacterial isolates that were capable of degrading recalcitrant polymers, i.e., low-density polyethylene, polyethylene terephthalate, and polystyrene. The unique bacterial isolates were obtained from plastic polluted environment. Dermacoccus sp. MR5 (accession no. OP592184) and Corynebacterium sp. MR10 (accession no. OP536169) from Malaysian mangroves and Bacillus sp. BS5 (accession no. OP536168) and Priestia sp. TL1 (accession no. OP536170) from a sanitary landfill. The four isolates showed a gradual increase in the microbial count and the production of laccase and esterase enzymes after 4 weeks of incubation with the polymers (independent experiment set). Bacillus sp. BS5 produced the highest laccase 15.35 ± 0.19 U/mL and showed the highest weight loss i.e., 4.84 ± 0.6% for PS. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy analysis confirmed the formation of carbonyl and hydroxyl groups as a result of oxidation reactions by enzymes. Liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry analysis showed the oxidation of the polymers to small molecules (alcohol, ethers, and acids) assimilated by the microbes during the degradation. Field emission scanning electron microscopy showed bacterial colonization, biofilm formation, and surface erosion on the polymer surface. The result provided significant insight into enzyme activities and the potential of isolates to target more than one type of polymer for degradation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pooja Singh
- School of Science, Monash University Malaysia, Jalan Lagoon Selatan, 47500, Bandar Sunway, Selangor, Malaysia
| | - Claudeen Sze Siang Lau
- School of Science, Monash University Malaysia, Jalan Lagoon Selatan, 47500, Bandar Sunway, Selangor, Malaysia
| | - Sze Yin Siah
- School of Science, Monash University Malaysia, Jalan Lagoon Selatan, 47500, Bandar Sunway, Selangor, Malaysia
| | - Kah Ooi Chua
- Centre for Research in Biotechnology for Agriculture (CEBAR), University of Malaya, 50603, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
| | - Adeline Su Yien Ting
- School of Science, Monash University Malaysia, Jalan Lagoon Selatan, 47500, Bandar Sunway, Selangor, Malaysia.
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21
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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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22
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Srivastava P, Saji J, Manickam N. Biodegradation of polyethylene terephthalate (PET) by Brucella intermedia IITR130 and its proposed metabolic pathway. Biodegradation 2024:10.1007/s10532-024-10070-9. [PMID: 38459363 DOI: 10.1007/s10532-024-10070-9] [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: 07/19/2023] [Accepted: 01/18/2024] [Indexed: 03/10/2024]
Abstract
Accumulation of polyethylene terephthalate (PET) polyester in ecosystems across the globe is a major pollution of concern. Microbial degradation recently generated novel insights into the biodegradation of varieties of plastics. In this study, a PET degrading bacterium Brucella intermedia IITR130 was isolated from a contaminated lake ecosystem at Pallikaranai, Chennai, India. Incubation of the bacterium along with the PET sheet (0.1 mm thickness) for 60 days resulted in 26.06% degradation, indicating a half-life of 137.8 days. Considerable changes in the surface morphology of the PET sheet were found as holes, pits, and cracks on incubation with strain IITR130, as revealed by scanning electron microscopy (SEM). After bacterial treatment of PET, the formation of new functional groups, most notably in the area of 3326 cm-1 suggestive of O-H stretch, leading to carboxylic acid and alcohol as products were suggested by fourier transform infrared (FTIR) analysis. Monomethyl terephthalate (MMT) and terephthalic acid (TPA) were identified by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) analysis as PET degradation metabolites. Tributyrin clearance assay confirmed the presence of a lipase/esterase enzyme in the strain IITR130. In this study, a degradation pathway for PET by an isolated and identified bacterium Brucella intermedia IITR130 was characterized in detail.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pallavi Srivastava
- Environmental Biotechnology Laboratory, Environmental Toxicology Group, FEST Division, CSIR-Indian Institute of Toxicology Research, Vishvigyan Bhawan, 31 Mahatma Gandhi Marg, Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh, 226001, India
- Academy of Scientific and Innovative Research (AcSIR), Ghaziabad, Uttar Pradesh, 201002, India
| | - Joel Saji
- Drug and Chemical Toxicology Group, FEST Division, CSIR-Indian Institute of Toxicology Research, Vishvigyan Bhawan, 31 Mahatma Gandhi Marg, Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh, 226001, India
| | - Natesan Manickam
- Environmental Biotechnology Laboratory, Environmental Toxicology Group, FEST Division, CSIR-Indian Institute of Toxicology Research, Vishvigyan Bhawan, 31 Mahatma Gandhi Marg, Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh, 226001, India.
- Academy of Scientific and Innovative Research (AcSIR), Ghaziabad, Uttar Pradesh, 201002, India.
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23
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He L, Yang SS, Ding J, Chen CX, Yang F, He ZL, Pang JW, Peng BY, Zhang Y, Xing DF, Ren NQ, Wu WM. Biodegradation of polyethylene terephthalate by Tenebrio molitor: Insights for polymer chain size, gut metabolome and host genes. JOURNAL OF HAZARDOUS MATERIALS 2024; 465:133446. [PMID: 38219578 DOI: 10.1016/j.jhazmat.2024.133446] [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: 08/18/2023] [Revised: 01/02/2024] [Accepted: 01/03/2024] [Indexed: 01/16/2024]
Abstract
Polyethylene terephthalate (PET or polyester) is a commonly used plastic and also contributes to the majority of plastic wastes. Mealworms (Tenebrio molitor larvae) are capable of biodegrading major plastic polymers but their degrading ability for PET has not been characterized based on polymer chain size molecular size, gut microbiome, metabolome and transcriptome. We verified biodegradation of commercial PET by T. molitor larvae in a previous report. Here, we reported that biodegradation of commercial PET (Mw 29.43 kDa) was further confirmed by using the δ13C signature as an indication of bioreaction, which was increased from - 27.50‰ to - 26.05‰. Under antibiotic suppression of gut microbes, the PET was still depolymerized, indicating that the host digestive enzymes could degrade PET independently. Biodegradation of high purity PET with low, medium, and high molecular weights (MW), i.e., Mw values of 1.10, 27.10, and 63.50 kDa with crystallinity 53.66%, 33.43%, and 4.25%, respectively, showed a mass reduction of > 95%, 86%, and 74% via broad depolymerization. Microbiome analyses indicated that PET diets shifted gut microbiota to three distinct structures, depending on the low, medium, and high MW. Metagenome sequencing, transcriptomic, and metabolic analyses indicated symbiotic biodegradation of PET by the host and gut microbiota. After PET was fed, the host's genes encoding degradation enzymes were upregulated, including genes encoding oxidizing, hydrolyzing, and non-specific CYP450 enzymes. Gut bacterial genes for biodegrading intermediates and nitrogen fixation also upregulated. The multiple-functional metabolic pathways for PET biodegradation ensured rapid biodegradation resulting in a half-life of PET less than 4 h with less negative impact by PET MW and crystallinity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lei He
- CAS Key Laboratory of Urban Pollutant Conversion, Department of Environmental Science and Engineering, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei 230026, China; State Key Laboratory of Urban Water Resource and Environment, School of Environment, Harbin Institute of Technology, Harbin 150090, China
| | - Shan-Shan Yang
- State Key Laboratory of Urban Water Resource and Environment, School of Environment, Harbin Institute of Technology, Harbin 150090, China.
| | - Jie Ding
- State Key Laboratory of Urban Water Resource and Environment, School of Environment, Harbin Institute of Technology, Harbin 150090, China
| | - Cheng-Xin Chen
- State Key Laboratory of Urban Water Resource and Environment, School of Environment, Harbin Institute of Technology, Harbin 150090, China
| | - Fan Yang
- School of Life Science and Technology, Harbin Institute of Technology, Harbin 150090, China
| | - Zhi-Li He
- Southern Marine Science and Engineering Guangdong Laboratory (Zhuhai), Zhuhai 519080, China
| | - Ji-Wei Pang
- China Energy Conservation and Environmental Protection Group, Beijing 100089, China
| | - Bo-Yu Peng
- State Key Laboratory of Pollution Control and Resource Reuse, College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Tongji University, Shanghai 200092, China
| | - Yalei Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Pollution Control and Resource Reuse, College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Tongji University, Shanghai 200092, China
| | - De-Feng Xing
- State Key Laboratory of Urban Water Resource and Environment, School of Environment, Harbin Institute of Technology, Harbin 150090, China
| | - Nan-Qi Ren
- State Key Laboratory of Urban Water Resource and Environment, School of Environment, Harbin Institute of Technology, Harbin 150090, China
| | - Wei-Min Wu
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, William & Cloy Codiga Resource Recovery Center, Stanford University, Stanford, CA 94305, USA.
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24
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Parida D, Katare K, Ganguly A, Chakraborty D, Konar O, Nogueira R, Bala K. Molecular docking and metagenomics assisted mitigation of microplastic pollution. CHEMOSPHERE 2024; 351:141271. [PMID: 38262490 DOI: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2024.141271] [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: 09/29/2023] [Revised: 01/18/2024] [Accepted: 01/19/2024] [Indexed: 01/25/2024]
Abstract
Microplastics, tiny, flimsy, and direct progenitors of principal and subsidiary plastics, cause environmental degradation in aquatic and terrestrial entities. Contamination concerns include irrevocable impacts, potential cytotoxicity, and negative health effects on mortals. The detection, recovery, and degradation strategies of these pollutants in various biota and ecosystems, as well as their impact on plants, animals, and humans, have been a topic of significant interest. But the natural environment is infested with several types of plastics, all having different chemical makeup, structure, shape, and origin. Plastic trash acts as a substrate for microbial growth, creating biofilms on the plastisphere surface. This colonizing microbial diversity can be glimpsed with meta-genomics, a culture-independent approach. Owing to its comprehensive description of microbial communities, genealogical evidence on unconventional biocatalysts or enzymes, genomic correlations, evolutionary profile, and function, it is being touted as one of the promising tools in identifying novel enzymes for the degradation of polymers. Additionally, computational tools such as molecular docking can predict the binding of these novel enzymes to the polymer substrate, which can be validated through in vitro conditions for its environmentally feasible applications. This review mainly deals with the exploration of metagenomics along with computational tools to provide a clearer perspective into the microbial potential in the biodegradation of microplastics. The computational tools due to their polymathic nature will be quintessential in identifying the enzyme structure, binding affinities of the prospective enzymes to the substrates, and foretelling of degradation pathways involved which can be quite instrumental in the furtherance of the plastic degradation studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dinesh Parida
- Department of Biosciences and Biomedical Engineering, Indian Institute of Technology, Indore, 453552, India.
| | - Konica Katare
- Department of Biosciences and Biomedical Engineering, Indian Institute of Technology, Indore, 453552, India.
| | - Atmaadeep Ganguly
- Department of Microbiology, Ramakrishna Mission Vivekananda Centenary College, West Bengal State University, Kolkata, 700118, India.
| | - Disha Chakraborty
- Department of Botany, Shri Shikshayatan College, University of Calcutta, Lord Sinha Road, Kolkata, 700071, India.
| | - Oisi Konar
- Department of Botany, Shri Shikshayatan College, University of Calcutta, Lord Sinha Road, Kolkata, 700071, India.
| | - Regina Nogueira
- Institute of Sanitary Engineering and Waste Management, Leibniz Universität, Hannover, Germany.
| | - Kiran Bala
- Department of Biosciences and Biomedical Engineering, Indian Institute of Technology, Indore, 453552, India.
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25
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Kornberger D, Paatsch T, Schmidt M, Salat U. New combined absorption/ 1H NMR method for qualitative and quantitative analysis of PET degradation products. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND POLLUTION RESEARCH INTERNATIONAL 2024; 31:20689-20697. [PMID: 38393574 PMCID: PMC10927764 DOI: 10.1007/s11356-024-32481-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/11/2022] [Accepted: 02/10/2024] [Indexed: 02/25/2024]
Abstract
Poly(ethylene terephthalate) (PET) is a very valuable and beneficial material for industrial purposes, with various different applications. Due to the high annual production volume of over 50 million tons worldwide and the indiscriminate disposal by consumers, the polymers accumulate in the environment, causing negative effects on various ecosystems. Biodegradation via suitable enzymes represents a promising approach to combat the plastic waste issue so validated methods are required to measure the efficiency and efficacy of these enzymes. PETase and MHETase from Ideonella sakaiensis are suitable enzymes needed in combination to completely degrade PET into its environmentally friendly monomers. In this project, we compare and combine a previously described bulk absorbance measurement method with a newly established 1H NMR analysis method of the PET degradation products mono(2-hydroxyethyl) terephthalic acid, bis(2-hydroxyethyl) terephthalic acid and terephthalic acid. Both were optimized regarding different solvents, pH values and drying processes. The accuracy of the measurements can be confirmed with sensitivity limits of 2.5-5 µM for the absorption method and 5-10 µM for the 1H NMR analysis. The combination of the described methods therefore allows a quantitative analysis by using bulk absorption coupled with a qualitative analysis through 1H NMR. The methods established in our work can potentially contribute to the development of suitable recycling strategies of PET using recombinant enzymes.
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Affiliation(s)
- David Kornberger
- Faculty Medical and Life Sciences, Institute of Applied Biology, Molecular Biology Lab, Furtwangen University, Jakob-Kienzle-Str. 17, 78054, Villingen-Schwenningen, Germany
| | - Tanja Paatsch
- Faculty Medical and Life Sciences, Institute of Applied Biology, Molecular Biology Lab, Furtwangen University, Jakob-Kienzle-Str. 17, 78054, Villingen-Schwenningen, Germany
| | - Magnus Schmidt
- Faculty Medical and Life Sciences, Institute of Precision Medicine, Organic and Bioorganic Chemistry Labs, Furtwangen University, Jakob-Kienzle-Str. 17, 78054, Villingen-Schwenningen, Germany
| | - Ulrike Salat
- Faculty Medical and Life Sciences, Institute of Applied Biology, Molecular Biology Lab, Furtwangen University, Jakob-Kienzle-Str. 17, 78054, Villingen-Schwenningen, Germany.
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26
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Ou D, Ni Y, Li W, He W, Wang L, Huang H, Pan Z. Psychrobacter species enrichment as potential microplastic degrader and the putative biodegradation mechanism in Shenzhen Bay sediment, China. JOURNAL OF HAZARDOUS MATERIALS 2024; 464:132971. [PMID: 37956562 DOI: 10.1016/j.jhazmat.2023.132971] [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: 08/28/2023] [Revised: 11/07/2023] [Accepted: 11/07/2023] [Indexed: 11/15/2023]
Abstract
Microplastic (MP) pollution has emerged as a pressing environmental concern due to its ubiquity and longevity. Biodegradation of MPs has garnered significant attention in combatting global MP contamination. This study focused on MPs within sediments near the sewage outlet of Shenzhen Bay. The objective was to elucidate the microbial communities in sediments with varying MPs, particularly those with high MP loads, and to identify microorganisms associated with MP degradation. The results revealed varying MP abundance, ranging from 211 to 4140 items kg-1 dry weight (d. w.), with the highest concentration observed near the outfall. Metagenomic analysis confirmed the enrichment of Psychrobacter species in sediments with high MP content. Psychrobacter accounted for ∼16.71% of the total bacterial community and 41.71% of hydrocarbon degrading bacteria at the S3 site, exhibiting a higher abundance than at other sampling sites. Psychrobacter contributed significantly to bacterial function at S3, as evidenced by the Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes pathway and enzyme analysis. Notably, 28 enzymes involved in MP biodegradation were identified, predominantly comprising oxidoreductases, hydrolases, transferases, ligases, lyases, and isomerases. We propose a putative mechanism for MP biodegradation, involving the breakdown of long-chain plastic polymers and subsequent oxidation of short-chain oligomers, ultimately leading to thorough mineralization.
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Affiliation(s)
- Danyun Ou
- Third Institute of Oceanography, Ministry of Natural Resources, Xiamen 361005, PR China; Key Laboratory of Marine Ecological Conservation and Restoration, Ministry of Natural Resources, Xiamen 361005, PR China; Fujian Provincial Key Laboratory of Marine Ecological Conservation and Restoration, Xiamen 361005, PR China; Observation and Research Station of Coastal Wetland Ecosystem in Beibu Gulf, Ministry of Natural Resources, Beihai 536015, PR China
| | - Yue Ni
- Third Institute of Oceanography, Ministry of Natural Resources, Xiamen 361005, PR China; Key Laboratory of Marine Ecological Conservation and Restoration, Ministry of Natural Resources, Xiamen 361005, PR China; Fujian Provincial Key Laboratory of Marine Ecological Conservation and Restoration, Xiamen 361005, PR China
| | - Weiwen Li
- Third Institute of Oceanography, Ministry of Natural Resources, Xiamen 361005, PR China; Key Laboratory of Marine Ecological Conservation and Restoration, Ministry of Natural Resources, Xiamen 361005, PR China; Fujian Provincial Key Laboratory of Marine Ecological Conservation and Restoration, Xiamen 361005, PR China
| | - Weiyi He
- Third Institute of Oceanography, Ministry of Natural Resources, Xiamen 361005, PR China; Institute for Advanced Studies, Universiti Malaya, Federal Territory of Kuala Lumpur, 50603 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
| | - Lei Wang
- Third Institute of Oceanography, Ministry of Natural Resources, Xiamen 361005, PR China; Key Laboratory of Marine Ecological Conservation and Restoration, Ministry of Natural Resources, Xiamen 361005, PR China; Fujian Provincial Key Laboratory of Marine Ecological Conservation and Restoration, Xiamen 361005, PR China
| | - Hao Huang
- Third Institute of Oceanography, Ministry of Natural Resources, Xiamen 361005, PR China; Key Laboratory of Marine Ecological Conservation and Restoration, Ministry of Natural Resources, Xiamen 361005, PR China; Fujian Provincial Key Laboratory of Marine Ecological Conservation and Restoration, Xiamen 361005, PR China
| | - Zhong Pan
- Third Institute of Oceanography, Ministry of Natural Resources, Xiamen 361005, PR China.
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27
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Cui Y, Chen Y, Sun J, Zhu T, Pang H, Li C, Geng WC, Wu B. Computational redesign of a hydrolase for nearly complete PET depolymerization at industrially relevant high-solids loading. Nat Commun 2024; 15:1417. [PMID: 38360963 PMCID: PMC10869840 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-024-45662-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/02/2023] [Accepted: 01/30/2024] [Indexed: 02/17/2024] Open
Abstract
Biotechnological plastic recycling has emerged as a suitable option for addressing the pollution crisis. A major breakthrough in the biodegradation of poly(ethylene terephthalate) (PET) is achieved by using a LCC variant, which permits 90% conversion at an industrial level. Despite the achievements, its applications have been hampered by the remaining 10% of nonbiodegradable PET. Herein, we address current challenges by employing a computational strategy to engineer a hydrolase from the bacterium HR29. The redesigned variant, TurboPETase, outperforms other well-known PET hydrolases. Nearly complete depolymerization is accomplished in 8 h at a solids loading of 200 g kg-1. Kinetic and structural analysis suggest that the improved performance may be attributed to a more flexible PET-binding groove that facilitates the targeting of more specific attack sites. Collectively, our results constitute a significant advance in understanding and engineering of industrially applicable polyester hydrolases, and provide guidance for further efforts on other polymer types.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yinglu Cui
- AIM Center, Institute of Microbiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China.
| | - Yanchun Chen
- AIM Center, Institute of Microbiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Jinyuan Sun
- AIM Center, Institute of Microbiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Tong Zhu
- AIM Center, Institute of Microbiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Hua Pang
- AIM Center, Institute of Microbiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Chunli Li
- AIM Center, Institute of Microbiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Wen-Chao Geng
- AIM Center, Institute of Microbiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
- College of Chemistry, Nankai University, Tianjin, China
| | - Bian Wu
- AIM Center, Institute of Microbiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China.
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28
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Thomsen TB, Radmer TS, Meyer AS. Enzymatic degradation of poly(ethylene terephthalate) (PET): Identifying the cause of the hypersensitive enzyme kinetic response to increased PET crystallinity. Enzyme Microb Technol 2024; 173:110353. [PMID: 37979402 DOI: 10.1016/j.enzmictec.2023.110353] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/04/2023] [Revised: 11/01/2023] [Accepted: 11/01/2023] [Indexed: 11/20/2023]
Abstract
Plastic pollution poses a significant environmental challenge, with poly(ethylene terephthalate) (PET) being a major contributor due to its extensive use in single use applications such as plastic bottles and other packaging material. Enzymatic degradation of PET offers a promising solution for PET recycling, but the enzyme kinetics in relation to the degree of crystallinity (XC) of the PET substrate are poorly understood. In this study, we investigated the hypersensitive enzyme kinetic response on PET at XC from ∼8.5-12% at 50 °C using the benchmark PET hydrolysing enzyme LCCICCG. We observed a substantial reduction in the maximal enzymatic reaction rate (invVmax) with increasing XC, corresponding to a 3-fold reduction in invVmax when the XC of PET increased from 8.6% to 12.2%. The kinetic analysis revealed that the level of the Mobile Amorphous Fraction (XMAF) was a better descriptor for the enzymatic degradation rate response than XC (or (100%-XC)). By continuous monitoring of the enzymatic reaction progress, we quantified the lag phase prolongation in addition to the steady-state kinetic rates (vss) of the reactions and found that the duration of the lag phase of a reaction could be predicted from the vss and XC by multiple linear regression modeling. The linear correlation between the duration of the lag phase and the vss of the enzymatic PET degradation affirmed that the LCCICCG worked via a random/endo-type enzymatic attack pattern. The longer lag phase at increased XC of PET is proposed to be due to increased substrate entanglement density as well as unproductive enzyme binding to the crystalline regions of PET. The findings enhance our understanding of PET enzymatic degradation kinetics and its dependence on substrate composition, i.e., XMAF and XC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Thore Bach Thomsen
- Protein Chemistry and Enzyme Technology Section, Department of Biotechnology and Biomedicine, DTU Bioengineering, Technical University of Denmark, Building 221, 2800 Kgs. Lyngby, Denmark
| | - Tobias S Radmer
- Protein Chemistry and Enzyme Technology Section, Department of Biotechnology and Biomedicine, DTU Bioengineering, Technical University of Denmark, Building 221, 2800 Kgs. Lyngby, Denmark
| | - Anne S Meyer
- Protein Chemistry and Enzyme Technology Section, Department of Biotechnology and Biomedicine, DTU Bioengineering, Technical University of Denmark, Building 221, 2800 Kgs. Lyngby, Denmark.
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29
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Bhanot V, Mamta, Gupta S, Panwar J. Phylloplane fungus Curvularia dactyloctenicola VJP08 effectively degrades commercially available PS product. JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT 2024; 351:119920. [PMID: 38157570 DOI: 10.1016/j.jenvman.2023.119920] [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: 10/05/2023] [Revised: 11/20/2023] [Accepted: 12/11/2023] [Indexed: 01/03/2024]
Abstract
Polystyrene (PS), a widely produced plastic with an extended carbon (C-C) backbone that resists microbial attack, is produced in enormous quantities throughout the World. Naturally occurring plasticizers such as plant cuticle and lignocelluloses share similar properties to synthetic plastics such as hydrophobicity, structural complexity, and higher recalcitrance to degradation. In due course of time, phytopathogenic fungi have evolved strategies to overcome these limitations and utilize lignocellulosic waste for their nutrition. The present investigation focuses on the utilization of phylloplane fungus, Curvularia dactyloctenicola VJP08 towards its ability to colonize and degrade commercially available PS lids. The fungus was observed to densely grow onto PS samples over an incubation period of 30 days. The morphological changes showcased extensive fungal growth with mycelial imbrication invading the PS surface for carbon extraction leading to the appearance of cracks and holes in the PS surface. It was further confirmed by EDS analysis which indicated that carbon was extracted from PS for the fungal growth. Further, 3.57% decrease in the weight, 8.8% decrease in the thickness and 2 °C decrease in the glass transition temperature (Tg) confirmed alterations in the structural integrity of PS samples by the fungal action. GC-MS/MS analysis of the treated PS samples also showed significant decrease in the concentration of benzene and associated aromatic derivatives confirming the degradation of PS samples and subsequent utilization of generated by-products by the fungus for growth. Overall, the present study confirmed the degradation and utilization of commercially available PS samples by phylloplane fungus C. dactyloctenicola VJP08. These findings establish a clear cross-assessment of the phylloplane fungi for their prospective use in the development of degradation strategies of synthetic plastics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vishalakshi Bhanot
- Department of Biological Sciences, Birla Institute of Technology and Sciences, Pilani, 333031, Rajasthan, India
| | - Mamta
- Department of Biological Sciences, Birla Institute of Technology and Sciences, Pilani, 333031, Rajasthan, India
| | - Suresh Gupta
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Birla Institute of Technology and Science, Pilani, 333031, Rajasthan, India
| | - Jitendra Panwar
- Department of Biological Sciences, Birla Institute of Technology and Sciences, Pilani, 333031, Rajasthan, India.
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Han W, Zhang J, Chen Q, Xie Y, Zhang M, Qu J, Tan Y, Diao Y, Wang Y, Zhang Y. Biodegradation of poly(ethylene terephthalate) through PETase surface-display: From function to structure. JOURNAL OF HAZARDOUS MATERIALS 2024; 461:132632. [PMID: 37804764 DOI: 10.1016/j.jhazmat.2023.132632] [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: 07/19/2023] [Revised: 09/20/2023] [Accepted: 09/24/2023] [Indexed: 10/09/2023]
Abstract
Polyethylene terephthalate (PET) is one of the most used plastics which has caused some environmental pollution and social problems. Although many newly discovered or modified PET hydrolases have been reported at present, there is still a lack of comparison between their hydrolytic capacities, as well as the need for new biotechnology to apply them for the PET treatment. Here, we systematically studied the surface-display technology for PET hydrolysis using several PET hydrolases. It is found that anchoring protein types had little influence on the surface-display result under T7 promoter, while the PET hydrolase types were more important. By contrast, the newly reported FAST-PETase showed the strongest hydrolysis effect, achieving 71.3% PET hydrolysis in 24 h by pGSA-FAST-PETase. Via model calculation, FAST-PETase indeed exhibited higher temperature tolerance and catalytic capacity. Besides, smaller particle size and lower crystallinity favored the hydrolysis of PET pellets. Through protein structure comparison, we summarized the common characteristics of efficient PET-hydrolyzing enzymes and proposed three main crystal structures of PET enzymes via crystal structural analysis, with ISPETase being the representative and main structure. Surface co-display of FAST-PETase and MHETase can promote the hydrolysis of PET, and the C-terminal of the fusion protein is crucial for PET hydrolysis. The results of our research can be helpful for PET contamination removal as well as other areas involving the application of enzymes. SYNOPSIS: This research can promote the development of better PET hydrolase and its applications in PET pollution treatment via bacteria surface-display.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wei Han
- School of Resources and Environment, Northeast Agricultural University, Heilongjiang 150030, PR China
| | - Jun Zhang
- School of Resources and Environment, Northeast Agricultural University, Heilongjiang 150030, PR China
| | - Qi Chen
- School of Resources and Environment, Northeast Agricultural University, Heilongjiang 150030, PR China
| | - Yuzhu Xie
- School of Resources and Environment, Northeast Agricultural University, Heilongjiang 150030, PR China
| | - Meng Zhang
- School of Resources and Environment, Northeast Agricultural University, Heilongjiang 150030, PR China
| | - Jianhua Qu
- School of Resources and Environment, Northeast Agricultural University, Heilongjiang 150030, PR China
| | - Yuanji Tan
- School of Resources and Environment, Northeast Agricultural University, Heilongjiang 150030, PR China
| | - Yiran Diao
- School of Resources and Environment, Northeast Agricultural University, Heilongjiang 150030, PR China
| | - Yixuan Wang
- School of Resources and Environment, Northeast Agricultural University, Heilongjiang 150030, PR China
| | - Ying Zhang
- School of Resources and Environment, Northeast Agricultural University, Heilongjiang 150030, PR China.
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31
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Zhuo M, Chen Z, Liu X, Wei W, Shen Y, Ni BJ. A broad horizon for sustainable catalytic oxidation of microplastics. ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION (BARKING, ESSEX : 1987) 2024; 340:122835. [PMID: 37931676 DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2023.122835] [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: 03/31/2023] [Revised: 10/10/2023] [Accepted: 10/29/2023] [Indexed: 11/08/2023]
Abstract
Microplastics (MPs) have attracted tremendous attention due to their widespread appearance in the environment and biota, and their adverse effects on organisms. Since plastics are substantially produced to meet human needs, primary and secondary MPs are extensively trapped in wastewater treatment plants, freshwater, drinking water, ocean, air, and soil. The serious MPs pollution calls for efficient treatment strategies Herein, we discuss three catalytic processes (photocatalysis, electrocatalysis, and biocatalysis) for the sustainable management of MPs, and the relevant catalytic mechanisms are clarified. For photocatalysis, three categories (organic, inorganic, hybrid) of photocatalysts are listed, with degradation efficiency of 23%-100%. Next, relative impact factors on photocatalysis, such as characteristics of MPs and photocatalysts, are discussed. Then, some promising electrocatalysts for the degradation/conversion of (micro)plastics and standard electrolyzer designs are briefly introduced. This electrocatalytic method has achieved over 77% of Faradaic efficiency. Next, potential organisms with abundant biocatalysts for degrading different types of MPs are reviewed. Advances in three bioremediation techniques including biositimulation, bioaugmentation, and biosurfactant are outlined. Lastly, perspectives are put forward to promote scientific development in solving environmental issues on MPs pollution in broad fields. This paper provides insights into the development of next-generation techniques for MPs pollution management in a sustainable manner.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maoshui Zhuo
- Centre for Technology in Water and Wastewater, School of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of Technology Sydney, NSW, 2007, Australia
| | - Zhijie Chen
- Centre for Technology in Water and Wastewater, School of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of Technology Sydney, NSW, 2007, Australia
| | - Xiaoqing Liu
- Centre for Technology in Water and Wastewater, School of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of Technology Sydney, NSW, 2007, Australia
| | - Wei Wei
- Centre for Technology in Water and Wastewater, School of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of Technology Sydney, NSW, 2007, Australia
| | - Yansong Shen
- School of Chemical Engineering, University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW, 2052, Australia
| | - Bing-Jie Ni
- Centre for Technology in Water and Wastewater, School of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of Technology Sydney, NSW, 2007, Australia; School of Civil and Environmental Engineering, The University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW, 2052, Australia.
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Zhang H, Dierkes RF, Perez-Garcia P, Costanzi E, Dittrich J, Cea PA, Gurschke M, Applegate V, Partus K, Schmeisser C, Pfleger C, Gohlke H, Smits SHJ, Chow J, Streit WR. The metagenome-derived esterase PET40 is highly promiscuous and hydrolyses polyethylene terephthalate (PET). FEBS J 2024; 291:70-91. [PMID: 37549040 DOI: 10.1111/febs.16924] [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: 01/31/2023] [Revised: 07/24/2023] [Accepted: 08/07/2023] [Indexed: 08/09/2023]
Abstract
Polyethylene terephthalate (PET) is a widely used synthetic polymer and known to contaminate marine and terrestrial ecosystems. Only few PET-active microorganisms and enzymes (PETases) are currently known, and it is debated whether degradation activity for PET originates from promiscuous enzymes with broad substrate spectra that primarily act on natural polymers or other bulky substrates, or whether microorganisms evolved their genetic makeup to accepting PET as a carbon source. Here, we present a predicted diene lactone hydrolase designated PET40, which acts on a broad spectrum of substrates, including PET. It is the first esterase with activity on PET from a GC-rich Gram-positive Amycolatopsis species belonging to the Pseudonocardiaceae (Actinobacteria). It is highly conserved within the genera Amycolatopsis and Streptomyces. PET40 was identified by sequence-based metagenome search using a PETase-specific hidden Markov model. Besides acting on PET, PET40 has a versatile substrate spectrum, hydrolyzing δ-lactones, β-lactam antibiotics, the polyester-polyurethane Impranil® DLN, and various para-nitrophenyl ester substrates. Molecular docking suggests that the PET degradative activity is likely a result of the promiscuity of PET40, as potential binding modes were found for substrates encompassing mono(2-hydroxyethyl) terephthalate, bis(2-hydroxyethyl) terephthalate, and a PET trimer. We also solved the crystal structure of the inactive PET40 variant S178A to 1.60 Å resolution. PET40 is active throughout a wide pH (pH 4-10) and temperature range (4-65 °C) and remarkably stable in the presence of 5% SDS, making it a promising enzyme as a starting point for further investigations and optimization approaches.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hongli Zhang
- Department of Microbiology and Biotechnology, University of Hamburg, Germany
| | - Robert F Dierkes
- Department of Microbiology and Biotechnology, University of Hamburg, Germany
| | - Pablo Perez-Garcia
- Department of Microbiology and Biotechnology, University of Hamburg, Germany
- Molecular Microbiology, Institute for General Microbiology, Kiel University, Germany
| | - Elisa Costanzi
- Center for Structural Studies, Heinrich Heine University, Düsseldorf, Germany
| | - Jonas Dittrich
- Institute for Pharmaceutical and Medicinal Chemistry, Heinrich Heine University, Düsseldorf, Germany
| | - Pablo A Cea
- Institute for Pharmaceutical and Medicinal Chemistry, Heinrich Heine University, Düsseldorf, Germany
| | - Marno Gurschke
- Department of Microbiology and Biotechnology, University of Hamburg, Germany
| | - Violetta Applegate
- Center for Structural Studies, Heinrich Heine University, Düsseldorf, Germany
| | - Kristina Partus
- Department of Microbiology and Biotechnology, University of Hamburg, Germany
| | - Christel Schmeisser
- Department of Microbiology and Biotechnology, University of Hamburg, Germany
| | - Christopher Pfleger
- Institute for Pharmaceutical and Medicinal Chemistry, Heinrich Heine University, Düsseldorf, Germany
| | - Holger Gohlke
- Institute for Pharmaceutical and Medicinal Chemistry, Heinrich Heine University, Düsseldorf, Germany
- Institute of Bio- and Geosciences (IBG-4: Bioinformatics), John von Neumann Institute for Computing and Jülich Supercomputing Centre, Forschungszentrum Jülich GmbH, Germany
| | - Sander H J Smits
- Center for Structural Studies, Heinrich Heine University, Düsseldorf, Germany
- Institute of Biochemistry, Heinrich Heine University, Düsseldorf, Germany
| | - Jennifer Chow
- Department of Microbiology and Biotechnology, University of Hamburg, Germany
| | - Wolfgang R Streit
- Department of Microbiology and Biotechnology, University of Hamburg, Germany
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He Y, Deng X, Jiang L, Hao L, Shi Y, Lyu M, Zhang L, Wang S. Current advances, challenges and strategies for enhancing the biodegradation of plastic waste. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2024; 906:167850. [PMID: 37844647 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.167850] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/18/2023] [Revised: 10/13/2023] [Accepted: 10/13/2023] [Indexed: 10/18/2023]
Abstract
Due to its highly recalcitrant nature, the growing accumulation of plastic waste is becoming an urgent global problem. Biodegradation is one of the best possible approaches for the treatment of plastic waste in an environmentally friendly manner, but our current knowledge on the underlying mechanisms, as well as strategies for the development and enhancement of plastic biodegradation are still limited. This review aims to provide an updated and comprehensive overview of current research on plastic waste biodegradation, focusing on enhancement strategies with ongoing research significance, including the mining of highly efficient plastic-degrading microorganisms/enzymes, utilization of synergistic additives, novel pretreatment approaches, modification via molecular engineering, and construction of bacterial/enzyme consortia systems. Studying these strategies can (i) enrich the high-performance microbial/enzymes toolbox for plastic degradation, (ii) provide methods for recycling and upgrading plastics, as well as (iii) enable further molecular modification and functional optimization of plastic-degrading enzymes to realize economically viable biodegradation of plastics. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first review to discuss in detail strategies to enhance biodegradation of plastics. Finally, some recommendations for future research on plastic biodegradation are listed, hoping to provide the best direction for tackling the plastic waste dilemma in the future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuehui He
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Marine Bioresources and Environment/Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Marine, Biotechnology, Jiangsu Ocean University, Lianyungang 222005, China; Co-Innovation Center of Jiangsu Marine Bio-Industry Technology, Jiangsu Ocean University, Lianyungang 222005, China; College of Marine Food and Bioengineering, Jiangsu Ocean University, Lianyungang 222005, China
| | - Xilong Deng
- College of Marine Food and Bioengineering, Jiangsu Ocean University, Lianyungang 222005, China
| | - Lei Jiang
- College of Marine Food and Bioengineering, Jiangsu Ocean University, Lianyungang 222005, China
| | - Lijuan Hao
- College of Marine Food and Bioengineering, Jiangsu Ocean University, Lianyungang 222005, China
| | - Yong Shi
- College of Marine Food and Bioengineering, Jiangsu Ocean University, Lianyungang 222005, China
| | - Mingsheng Lyu
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Marine Bioresources and Environment/Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Marine, Biotechnology, Jiangsu Ocean University, Lianyungang 222005, China; Co-Innovation Center of Jiangsu Marine Bio-Industry Technology, Jiangsu Ocean University, Lianyungang 222005, China; College of Marine Food and Bioengineering, Jiangsu Ocean University, Lianyungang 222005, China
| | - Lei Zhang
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Marine Bioresources and Environment/Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Marine, Biotechnology, Jiangsu Ocean University, Lianyungang 222005, China; Co-Innovation Center of Jiangsu Marine Bio-Industry Technology, Jiangsu Ocean University, Lianyungang 222005, China; College of Marine Food and Bioengineering, Jiangsu Ocean University, Lianyungang 222005, China.
| | - Shujun Wang
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Marine Bioresources and Environment/Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Marine, Biotechnology, Jiangsu Ocean University, Lianyungang 222005, China; Co-Innovation Center of Jiangsu Marine Bio-Industry Technology, Jiangsu Ocean University, Lianyungang 222005, China; College of Marine Food and Bioengineering, Jiangsu Ocean University, Lianyungang 222005, China.
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34
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Thomsen TB, Almdal K, Meyer AS. Significance of poly(ethylene terephthalate) (PET) substrate crystallinity on enzymatic degradation. N Biotechnol 2023; 78:162-172. [PMID: 37939899 DOI: 10.1016/j.nbt.2023.11.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/26/2023] [Revised: 10/20/2023] [Accepted: 11/04/2023] [Indexed: 11/10/2023]
Abstract
Poly(ethylene terephthalate) (PET) is a semi-crystalline plastic polyester material with a global production volume of 83 Mt/year. PET is mainly used in textiles, but also widely used for packaging materials, notably plastic bottles, and is a major contributor to environmental plastic waste accumulation. Now that enzymes have been demonstrated to catalyze PET degradation, new options for sustainable bio-recycling of PET materials via enzymatic catalysis have emerged. The enzymatic degradation rate is strongly influenced by the properties of PET, notably the degree of crystallinity, XC. The higher the XC of the PET material, the slower the enzymatic rate. Crystallization of PET, resulting in increased XC, is induced thermally (via heating) and/or mechanically (via stretching), and the XC of most PET plastic bottles and microplastics exceeds what currently known enzymes can readily degrade. The enzymatic action occurs at the surface of the insoluble PET material and improves when the polyester chain mobility increases. The chain mobility increases drastically when the temperature exceeds the glass transition temperature, Tg, which is ∼40 °C at the surface layer of PET. Since PET crystallization starts at 70 °C, the ideal temperature for enzymatic degradation is just below 70 °C to balance high chain mobility and enzymatic reaction activation without inducing crystal formation. This paper reviews the current understanding on the properties of PET as an enzyme substrate and summarizes the most recent knowledge of how the crystalline and amorphous regions of PET form, and how the XC and the Tg impact the efficiency of enzymatic PET degradation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Thore Bach Thomsen
- Department of Biotechnology and Biomedicine, DTU Bioengineering, Protein Chemistry and Enzyme Technology Section, Building 221, Technical University of Denmark, 2800 Kgs Lyngby, Denmark
| | - Kristoffer Almdal
- DTU Chemistry, Building 206, Technical University of Denmark, 2800 Kgs Lyngby, Denmark
| | - Anne S Meyer
- Department of Biotechnology and Biomedicine, DTU Bioengineering, Protein Chemistry and Enzyme Technology Section, Building 221, Technical University of Denmark, 2800 Kgs Lyngby, Denmark.
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35
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Jain R, Gaur A, Suravajhala R, Chauhan U, Pant M, Tripathi V, Pant G. Microplastic pollution: Understanding microbial degradation and strategies for pollutant reduction. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2023; 905:167098. [PMID: 37717754 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.167098] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/10/2023] [Revised: 09/10/2023] [Accepted: 09/13/2023] [Indexed: 09/19/2023]
Abstract
Microplastics are ubiquitous environmental pollutants with the potential for adverse impacts on ecosystems and human health. These particles originate from the fragmentation of larger plastic items, shedding from synthetic fibers, tire abrasions, and direct release from personal care products and industrial processes. Once released into the environment, microplastics can disrupt ecosystems, accumulate in organisms, cause physical harm, and carry chemical pollutants that pose risks to both wildlife and human health. There is an urgent need to comprehensively explore the multifaceted issue of microplastic pollution and understand microbial degradation to reduce environmental pollution caused by microplastics. This paper presents a comprehensive exploration of microplastics, including their types, composition, advantages, and disadvantages, as well as the journey and evolution of microplastic pollution. The impact of microplastics on the microbiome and microbial communities is elucidated, highlighting the intricate interactions between microplastics and microbial ecosystems. Furthermore, the microbial degradation of microplastics is discussed, including the identification, characterization, and culturing methods of microplastic-degrading microorganisms. Mechanisms of microplastic degradation and the involvement of microbial enzymes are elucidated to shed light on potential biotechnological applications. Strategies for reducing microplastic pollution are presented, encompassing policy recommendations and the importance of enhanced waste management practices. Finally, the paper addresses future challenges and prospects in the field, emphasizing the need for international collaboration, research advancements, and public engagement. Overall, this study underscores the urgent need for concerted efforts to mitigate microplastic pollution and offers valuable insights for researchers, policymakers, and stakeholders involved in environmental preservation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rajul Jain
- Bioclues.org, India, Vivekananda Nagar, Kukatpally, 500072 Hyderabad, Telangana, India.
| | - Ashish Gaur
- Department of Biotechnology, Graphic Era (Deemed to be University), Dehradun 248002, Uttarakhand, India.
| | - Renuka Suravajhala
- Amrita School of Biotechnology, Amrita Vishwa Vidyapeetham, Clappana, 690525, Kerala, India.
| | - Uttra Chauhan
- Department of Microbiology, Graphic Era (Deemed to be University), Dehradun 248002, India
| | - Manu Pant
- Department of Biotechnology, Graphic Era (Deemed to be University), Dehradun 248002, Uttarakhand, India
| | - Vishal Tripathi
- Department of Biotechnology, Graphic Era (Deemed to be University), Dehradun 248002, Uttarakhand, India.
| | - Gaurav Pant
- Department of Microbiology, Graphic Era (Deemed to be University), Dehradun 248002, India.
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Herrera DAG, Mojicevic M, Pantelic B, Joshi A, Collins C, Batista M, Torres C, Freitas F, Murray P, Nikodinovic-Runic J, Brennan Fournet M. Exploring Microorganisms from Plastic-Polluted Sites: Unveiling Plastic Degradation and PHA Production Potential. Microorganisms 2023; 11:2914. [PMID: 38138058 PMCID: PMC10745504 DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms11122914] [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: 10/30/2023] [Revised: 11/23/2023] [Accepted: 12/01/2023] [Indexed: 12/24/2023] Open
Abstract
The exposure of microorganisms to conventional plastics is a relatively recent occurrence, affording limited time for evolutionary adaptation. As part of the EU-funded project BioICEP, this study delves into the plastic degradation potential of microorganisms isolated from sites with prolonged plastic pollution, such as plastic-polluted forests, biopolymer-contaminated soil, oil-contaminated soil, municipal landfill, but also a distinctive soil sample with plastic pieces buried three decades ago. Additionally, samples from Arthropoda species were investigated. In total, 150 strains were isolated and screened for the ability to use plastic-related substrates (Impranil dispersions, polyethylene terephthalate, terephthalic acid, and bis(2-hydroxyethyl) terephthalate). Twenty isolates selected based on their ability to grow on various substrates were identified as Streptomyces, Bacillus, Enterococcus, and Pseudomonas spp. Morphological features were recorded, and the 16S rRNA sequence was employed to construct a phylogenetic tree. Subsequent assessments unveiled that 5 out of the 20 strains displayed the capability to produce polyhydroxyalkanoates, utilizing pre-treated post-consumer PET samples. With Priestia sp. DG69 and Neobacillus sp. DG40 emerging as the most successful producers (4.14% and 3.34% of PHA, respectively), these strains are poised for further utilization in upcycling purposes, laying the foundation for the development of sustainable strategies for plastic waste management.
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Affiliation(s)
- Diana A. Garza Herrera
- PRISM Research Institute, Technological University of the Shannon Midlands Midwest, N37HD68 Athlone, Ireland; (D.A.G.H.); (M.B.F.)
| | - Marija Mojicevic
- PRISM Research Institute, Technological University of the Shannon Midlands Midwest, N37HD68 Athlone, Ireland; (D.A.G.H.); (M.B.F.)
| | - Brana Pantelic
- Institute of Molecular Genetics and Genetic Engineering, University of Belgrade, Vojvode Stepe 444a, 11042 Belgrade, Serbia; (B.P.); (J.N.-R.)
| | - Akanksha Joshi
- Shannon Applied Biotechnology Centre, Midwest Campus, Technological University of the Shannon, V94EC5T Limerick, Ireland; (A.J.); (C.C.); (P.M.)
| | - Catherine Collins
- Shannon Applied Biotechnology Centre, Midwest Campus, Technological University of the Shannon, V94EC5T Limerick, Ireland; (A.J.); (C.C.); (P.M.)
| | - Maria Batista
- UCIBIO—Applied Molecular Biosciences Unit, Department of Chemistry, School of Science and Technology, NOVA University Lisbon, 2829-516 Lisbon, Portugal; (M.B.); (C.T.); (F.F.)
- Associate Laboratory i4HB—Institute for Health and Bioeconomy, School of Science and Technology, NOVA University Lisbon, 2829-516 Lisbon, Portugal
| | - Cristiana Torres
- UCIBIO—Applied Molecular Biosciences Unit, Department of Chemistry, School of Science and Technology, NOVA University Lisbon, 2829-516 Lisbon, Portugal; (M.B.); (C.T.); (F.F.)
- Associate Laboratory i4HB—Institute for Health and Bioeconomy, School of Science and Technology, NOVA University Lisbon, 2829-516 Lisbon, Portugal
| | - Filomena Freitas
- UCIBIO—Applied Molecular Biosciences Unit, Department of Chemistry, School of Science and Technology, NOVA University Lisbon, 2829-516 Lisbon, Portugal; (M.B.); (C.T.); (F.F.)
- Associate Laboratory i4HB—Institute for Health and Bioeconomy, School of Science and Technology, NOVA University Lisbon, 2829-516 Lisbon, Portugal
| | - Patrick Murray
- Shannon Applied Biotechnology Centre, Midwest Campus, Technological University of the Shannon, V94EC5T Limerick, Ireland; (A.J.); (C.C.); (P.M.)
| | - Jasmina Nikodinovic-Runic
- Institute of Molecular Genetics and Genetic Engineering, University of Belgrade, Vojvode Stepe 444a, 11042 Belgrade, Serbia; (B.P.); (J.N.-R.)
| | - Margaret Brennan Fournet
- PRISM Research Institute, Technological University of the Shannon Midlands Midwest, N37HD68 Athlone, Ireland; (D.A.G.H.); (M.B.F.)
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Degli-Innocenti F, Breton T, Chinaglia S, Esposito E, Pecchiari M, Pennacchio A, Pischedda A, Tosin M. Microorganisms that produce enzymes active on biodegradable polyesters are ubiquitous. Biodegradation 2023; 34:489-518. [PMID: 37354274 DOI: 10.1007/s10532-023-10031-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/20/2023] [Accepted: 05/30/2023] [Indexed: 06/26/2023]
Abstract
Biodegradability standards measure ultimate biodegradation of polymers by exposing the material under test to a natural microbial inoculum. Available tests developed by the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) use inoculums sampled from different environments e.g. soil, marine sediments, seawater. Understanding whether each inoculum is to be considered as microbially unique or not can be relevant for the interpretation of tests results. In this review, we address this question by consideration of the following: (i) the chemical nature of biodegradable plastics (virtually all biodegradable plastics are polyesters) (ii) the diffusion of ester bonds in nature both in simple molecules and in polymers (ubiquitous); (iii) the diffusion of decomposers capable of producing enzymes, called esterases, which accelerate the hydrolysis of esters, including polyesters (ubiquitous); (iv) the evidence showing that synthetic polyesters can be depolymerized by esterases (large and growing); (v) the evidence showing that these esterases are ubiquitous (growing and confirmed by bioinformatics studies). By combining the relevant available facts it can be concluded that if a certain polyester shows ultimate biodegradation when exposed to a natural inoculum, it can be considered biodegradable and need not be retested using other inoculums. Obviously, if the polymer does not show ultimate biodegradation it must be considered recalcitrant, until proven otherwise.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Tony Breton
- Novamont S.p.A., via Fauser 8, 28100, Novara, Italy
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Wang H, Guan F, Zhu Y, Pan Y, Liu Q, Liu Q, He W, Gong D, Tian J, Han D. Biofilm formation promoted biodegradation of polyethylene in Gordonia polyisoprenivorans B251 isolated from bacterial enrichment acclimated by hexadecane for two years. CHEMOSPHERE 2023; 344:140383. [PMID: 37832891 DOI: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2023.140383] [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: 02/15/2023] [Revised: 08/31/2023] [Accepted: 10/05/2023] [Indexed: 10/15/2023]
Abstract
Polyethylene (PE) mulch films have been widely used in agriculture and led to a significant pollution in cultivated soils. It is desirable to develop the sustainable method for the degradation of PE. As an environment friendly approach, microbial or enzymatic degradation of PE could meet this demanding. Thus, more microbial strains are required for illustrating biodegrading pathway and developing efficient biological method. In this study, Gordonia polyisoprenivorans B251 capable of degrading PE was isolated from bacterial enrichment with hexadecane as a sole carbon source for two years, in which genus Gordonia had dominated. As revealed by microbial growth curve, the strain B251 had the highest growth rate than other tested strains in the mediums either with hexadecane or PE particles as sole carbon source. The formation of biofilms in both enriched culture and G. polyisoprenivorans B251 pure culture attached to PE film was observed. The capability for PE degradation of individual strain was screened by 30-day incubation with PE film and confirmed by the presence of hydroxyl, carbonyl, carbon-carbon double bond and ether groups in FT-IR analysis and cracks on the surface of PE film observed by scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Therefore, Gordonia polyisoprenivorans, reported as their degradation of environmental contaminants in previous study, were also identified in current study as a candidate for polyethylene biodegradation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hongzhe Wang
- School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Suzhou University of Science and Technology, Suzhou, 215009, China; Key Laboratory of Soil Environment and Pollution Remediation, Institute of Soil Science, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Nanjing, 210008, China; University of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, China; Institute of Environment and Sustainable Development in Agriculture, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing, 100081, China
| | - Feifei Guan
- Biotechnology Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing, 100081, China
| | - Yan Zhu
- School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Suzhou University of Science and Technology, Suzhou, 215009, China
| | - Yanshuo Pan
- School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Suzhou University of Science and Technology, Suzhou, 215009, China; Institute of Environment and Sustainable Development in Agriculture, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing, 100081, China
| | - Qi Liu
- Institute of Environment and Sustainable Development in Agriculture, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing, 100081, China
| | - Qin Liu
- Institute of Environment and Sustainable Development in Agriculture, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing, 100081, China
| | - Wenqing He
- Institute of Environment and Sustainable Development in Agriculture, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing, 100081, China
| | - Daozhi Gong
- Institute of Environment and Sustainable Development in Agriculture, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing, 100081, China
| | - Jian Tian
- Institute of Animal Sciences, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing, 100081, China.
| | - Dongfei Han
- School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Suzhou University of Science and Technology, Suzhou, 215009, China.
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Scaria SS, Balasubramanian B, Dandin VS, Meyyazhagan A, Pappuswamy M, Sattanathan G, Liu WC, Kadanthottu Sebastian J, Park S. Review on impacts of micro- and nano-plastic on aquatic ecosystems and mitigation strategies. AQUATIC TOXICOLOGY (AMSTERDAM, NETHERLANDS) 2023; 265:106759. [PMID: 37977011 DOI: 10.1016/j.aquatox.2023.106759] [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: 09/21/2023] [Revised: 11/06/2023] [Accepted: 11/07/2023] [Indexed: 11/19/2023]
Abstract
The rapid proliferation of microplastics (MPs) and nanoplastics (NPs) in our environment presents a formidable hazard to both biotic and abiotic components. These pollutants originate from various sources, including commercial production and the breakdown of larger plastic particles. Widespread contamination of the human body, agroecosystems, and animals occurs through ingestion, entry into the food chain, and inhalation. Consequently, the imperative to devise innovative methods for MPs and NPs remediation has become increasingly apparent. This review explores the current landscape of strategies proposed to mitigate the escalating threats associated with plastic waste. Among the array of methods in use, microbial remediation emerges as a promising avenue for the decomposition and reclamation of MPs and NPs. In response to the growing concern, numerous nations have already implemented or are in the process of adopting regulations to curtail MPs and NPs in aquatic habitats. This paper aims to address this gap by delving into the environmental fate, behaviour, transport, ecotoxicity, and management of MPs and NPs particles within the context of nanoscience, microbial ecology, and remediation technologies. Key findings of this review encompass the intricate interdependencies between MPs and NPs and their ecosystems. The ecological impact, from fate to ecotoxicity, is scrutinized in light of the burgeoning environmental imperative. As a result, this review not only provides an encompassing understanding of the ecological ramifications of MPs and NPs but also highlights the pressing need for further research, innovation, and informed interventions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shilpa Susan Scaria
- Department of Life Sciences, Christ University, Bangalore, Karnataka 560029, India
| | | | | | - Arun Meyyazhagan
- Department of Life Sciences, Christ University, Bangalore, Karnataka 560029, India
| | | | | | - Wen-Chao Liu
- Department of Animal Science, College of Coastal Agricultural Sciences, Guangdong Ocean University, Zhanjiang 524088, PR China
| | | | - Sungkwon Park
- Department of Food Science and Biotechnology, College of Life Science, Sejong University, Seoul 05006, South Korea.
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40
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Howard SA, Carr CM, Sbahtu HI, Onwukwe U, López MJ, Dobson ADW, McCarthy RR. Enrichment of native plastic-associated biofilm communities to enhance polyester degrading activity. Environ Microbiol 2023; 25:2698-2718. [PMID: 37515381 PMCID: PMC10947123 DOI: 10.1111/1462-2920.16466] [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: 12/01/2022] [Accepted: 06/30/2023] [Indexed: 07/30/2023]
Abstract
Plastic pollution is an increasing worldwide problem urgently requiring a solution. While recycling rates are increasing globally, only 9% of all plastic waste has been recycled, and with the cost and limited downstream uses of recycled plastic, an alternative is needed. Here, we found that expanded polystyrene (EPS) promoted high levels of bacterial biofilm formation and sought out environmental EPS waste to characterize these native communities. We demonstrated that the EPS attached communities had limited plastic degrading activity. We then performed a long-term enrichment experiment where we placed a robust selection pressure on these communities by limiting carbon availability such that the waste plastic was the only carbon source. Seven of the resulting enriched bacterial communities had increased plastic degrading activity compared to the starting bacterial communities. Pseudomonas stutzeri was predominantly identified in six of the seven enriched communities as the strongest polyester degrader. Sequencing of one isolate of P. stutzeri revealed two putative polyesterases and one putative MHETase. This indicates that waste plastic-associated biofilms are a source for bacteria that have plastic-degrading potential, and that this potential can be unlocked through selective pressure and further in vitro enrichment experiments, resulting in biodegradative communities that are better than nature.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sophie A. Howard
- Centre for Inflammation Research and Translational Medicine, Division of Biosciences, Department of Life Sciences, College of Health and Life SciencesBrunel University LondonUxbridgeUK
| | - Clodagh M. Carr
- School of MicrobiologyUniversity College CorkCorkIreland
- SSPC‐SFI Research Centre for PharmaceuticalsUniversity College CorkCorkIreland
| | - Habteab Isaack Sbahtu
- Centre for Inflammation Research and Translational Medicine, Division of Biosciences, Department of Life Sciences, College of Health and Life SciencesBrunel University LondonUxbridgeUK
| | - Uchechukwu Onwukwe
- Experimental Techniques Centre, College of Engineering, Design and Physical SciencesBrunel University LondonUxbridgeUK
| | - Maria J. López
- Department of Biology and Geology, CITE II‐BUniversity of Almería, Agrifood Campus of International Excellence ceiA3, CIAIMBITALAlmeriaSpain
| | - Alan D. W. Dobson
- School of MicrobiologyUniversity College CorkCorkIreland
- SSPC‐SFI Research Centre for PharmaceuticalsUniversity College CorkCorkIreland
| | - Ronan R. McCarthy
- Centre for Inflammation Research and Translational Medicine, Division of Biosciences, Department of Life Sciences, College of Health and Life SciencesBrunel University LondonUxbridgeUK
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Zhang J, Wang H, Luo Z, Yang Z, Zhang Z, Wang P, Li M, Zhang Y, Feng Y, Lu D, Zhu Y. Computational design of highly efficient thermostable MHET hydrolases and dual enzyme system for PET recycling. Commun Biol 2023; 6:1135. [PMID: 37945666 PMCID: PMC10636135 DOI: 10.1038/s42003-023-05523-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/09/2023] [Accepted: 10/30/2023] [Indexed: 11/12/2023] Open
Abstract
Recently developed enzymes for the depolymerization of polyethylene terephthalate (PET) such as FAST-PETase and LCC-ICCG are inhibited by the intermediate PET product mono(2-hydroxyethyl) terephthalate (MHET). Consequently, the conversion of PET enzymatically into its constituent monomers terephthalic acid (TPA) and ethylene glycol (EG) is inefficient. In this study, a protein scaffold (1TQH) corresponding to a thermophilic carboxylesterase (Est30) was selected from the structural database and redesigned in silico. Among designs, a double variant KL-MHETase (I171K/G130L) with a similar protein melting temperature (67.58 °C) to that of the PET hydrolase FAST-PETase (67.80 °C) exhibited a 67-fold higher activity for MHET hydrolysis than FAST-PETase. A fused dual enzyme system comprising KL-MHETase and FAST-PETase exhibited a 2.6-fold faster PET depolymerization rate than FAST-PETase alone. Synergy increased the yield of TPA by 1.64 fold, and its purity in the released aromatic products reached 99.5%. In large reaction systems with 100 g/L substrate concentrations, the dual enzyme system KL36F achieved over 90% PET depolymerization into monomers, demonstrating its potential applicability in the industrial recycling of PET plastics. Therefore, a dual enzyme system can greatly reduce the reaction and separation cost for sustainable enzymatic PET recycling.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jun Zhang
- College of Life Science and Technology, Beijing University of Chemical Technology, Beijing, 100029, China
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Tsinghua University, Beijing, 100084, China
| | - Hongzhao Wang
- College of Life Science and Technology, Beijing University of Chemical Technology, Beijing, 100029, China
| | - Zhaorong Luo
- Beijing Advanced Innovation Center for Soft Matter Science and Engineering, State Key Laboratory of Chemical Resource Engineering, Beijing University of Chemical Technology, Beijing, 100029, China
| | - Zhenwu Yang
- College of Life Science and Technology, Beijing University of Chemical Technology, Beijing, 100029, China
| | - Zixuan Zhang
- College of Life Science and Technology, Beijing University of Chemical Technology, Beijing, 100029, China
| | - Pengyu Wang
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Tsinghua University, Beijing, 100084, China
| | - Mengyu Li
- College of Life Science and Technology, Beijing University of Chemical Technology, Beijing, 100029, China
| | - Yi Zhang
- Beijing Advanced Innovation Center for Soft Matter Science and Engineering, State Key Laboratory of Chemical Resource Engineering, Beijing University of Chemical Technology, Beijing, 100029, China
| | - Yue Feng
- Beijing Advanced Innovation Center for Soft Matter Science and Engineering, State Key Laboratory of Chemical Resource Engineering, Beijing University of Chemical Technology, Beijing, 100029, China
| | - Diannan Lu
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Tsinghua University, Beijing, 100084, China.
| | - Yushan Zhu
- College of Life Science and Technology, Beijing University of Chemical Technology, Beijing, 100029, China.
- National Energy R&D Center for Biorefinery, Beijing University of Chemical Technology, Beijing, 100029, China.
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42
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Qu Z, Chen K, Zhang L, Sun Y. Computation-Based Design of Salt Bridges in PETase for Enhanced Thermostability and Performance for PET Degradation. Chembiochem 2023; 24:e202300373. [PMID: 37639367 DOI: 10.1002/cbic.202300373] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/19/2023] [Revised: 08/28/2023] [Accepted: 08/28/2023] [Indexed: 08/31/2023]
Abstract
Polyethylene terephthalate (PET) is one of the most widely used plastics, and the accumulation of PET poses a great threat to the environment. IsPETase can degrade PET rapidly at moderate temperatures, but its application is greatly limited by the low stability. Herein, molecular dynamics (MD) simulations combined with a sequence alignment strategy were adopted to introduce salt bridges into the flexible region of IsPETase to improve its thermal stability. In the designed variants, the Tm values of IsPETaseI168R/S188D and IsPETaseI168R/S188E were 7.4 and 8.7 °C higher than that of the wild type, respectively. The release of products degraded by IsPETaseI168R/S188E was 4.3 times that of the wild type. Tertiary structure characterization demonstrated that the structure of the variants IsPETaseI168R/S188D and IsPETaseI168R/S188E became more compact. Extensive MD simulations verified that a stable salt bridge was formed between the residue R168 and D186 in IsPETaseI168R/S188D , while in IsPETaseI168R/S188E an R168-D186-E188 salt bridge network was observed. These results confirmed that the proposed computation-based salt bridge design strategy could efficiently generate variants with enhanced thermal stability for the long-term degradation of PET, which would be helpful for the design of enzymes with improved stability.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhi Qu
- Department of Biochemical Engineering, School of Chemical Engineering and Technology and, Key Laboratory of Systems Bioengineering and, Frontiers Science Center for Synthetic Biology (Ministry of Education), Tianjin University, Tianjin, 300350, China
| | - Kun Chen
- Department of Biochemical Engineering, School of Chemical Engineering and Technology and, Key Laboratory of Systems Bioengineering and, Frontiers Science Center for Synthetic Biology (Ministry of Education), Tianjin University, Tianjin, 300350, China
| | - Lin Zhang
- Department of Biochemical Engineering, School of Chemical Engineering and Technology and, Key Laboratory of Systems Bioengineering and, Frontiers Science Center for Synthetic Biology (Ministry of Education), Tianjin University, Tianjin, 300350, China
| | - Yan Sun
- Department of Biochemical Engineering, School of Chemical Engineering and Technology and, Key Laboratory of Systems Bioengineering and, Frontiers Science Center for Synthetic Biology (Ministry of Education), Tianjin University, Tianjin, 300350, China
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Burelo M, Hernández-Varela JD, Medina DI, Treviño-Quintanilla CD. Recent developments in bio-based polyethylene: Degradation studies, waste management and recycling. Heliyon 2023; 9:e21374. [PMID: 37885729 PMCID: PMC10598529 DOI: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2023.e21374] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/17/2023] [Revised: 10/11/2023] [Accepted: 10/20/2023] [Indexed: 10/28/2023] Open
Abstract
Nowadays, the tendency to replace conventional fossil-based plastics is increasing considerably; there is a growing trend towards alternatives that involve the development of plastic materials derived from renewable sources, which are compostable and biodegradable. Indeed, only 1.5 % of whole plastic production is part of the small bioplastics market, even when these materials with a partial or full composition from biomass are rapidly expanding. A very interesting field of investigation is currently being developed in which the disposal and processing of the final products are evaluated in terms of reducing environmental harm. This review presents a compilation of polyethylene (PE) types, their uses, and current problems in the waste management of PE and recycling. Particularly, this review is based on the capabilities to synthesize bio-based PE from natural and renewable sources as a replacement for the raw material derived from petroleum. In addition to recent studies in degradation on different types of PE with weight loss ranges from 1 to 47 %, the techniques used and the main changes observed after degradation. Finally, perspectives are presented in the manuscript about renewable and non-renewable polymers, depending on the non-degradable, biodegradable, and compostable behavior, including composting recent studies in PE. In addition, it contributes to the 3R approaches to responsible waste management of PE and advancement towards an environmentally friendly PE.
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Affiliation(s)
- Manuel Burelo
- Institute of Advanced Materials for Sustainable Manufacturing, Tecnologico de Monterrey, Monterrey, 64849, Nuevo Leon, Mexico
| | - Josué David Hernández-Varela
- Institute of Advanced Materials for Sustainable Manufacturing, Tecnologico de Monterrey, Monterrey, 64849, Nuevo Leon, Mexico
| | - Dora I. Medina
- Institute of Advanced Materials for Sustainable Manufacturing, Tecnologico de Monterrey, Monterrey, 64849, Nuevo Leon, Mexico
| | - Cecilia D. Treviño-Quintanilla
- Institute of Advanced Materials for Sustainable Manufacturing, Tecnologico de Monterrey, Monterrey, 64849, Nuevo Leon, Mexico
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44
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Jin J, Arciszewski J, Auclair K, Jia Z. Enzymatic polyethylene biorecycling: Confronting challenges and shaping the future. JOURNAL OF HAZARDOUS MATERIALS 2023; 460:132449. [PMID: 37690195 DOI: 10.1016/j.jhazmat.2023.132449] [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: 04/24/2023] [Revised: 08/25/2023] [Accepted: 08/30/2023] [Indexed: 09/12/2023]
Abstract
Polyethylene (PE) is a widely used plastic known for its resistance to biodegradation, posing a significant environmental challenge. Recent advances have shed light on microorganisms and insects capable of breaking down PE and identified potential PE-degrading enzymes (PEases), hinting at the possibility of PE biorecycling. Research on enzymatic PE degradation is still in its early stages, especially compared to the progress made with polyethylene terephthalate (PET). While PET hydrolases have been extensively studied and engineered for improved performance, even the products of PEases remain mostly undefined. This Perspective analyzes the current state of enzymatic PE degradation research, highlighting obstacles in the search for bona fide PEases and suggesting areas for future exploration. A critical challenge impeding progress in this field stems from the inert nature of the C-C and C-H bonds of PE. Furthermore, breaking down PE into small molecules using only one monofunctional enzyme is theoretically impossible. Overcoming these obstacles requires identifying enzymatic pathways, which can be facilitated using emerging technologies like omics, structure-based design, and computer-assisted engineering of enzymes. Understanding the mechanisms underlying PE enzymatic biodegradation is crucial for research progress and for identifying potential solutions to the global plastic pollution crisis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jin Jin
- Department of Biomedical and Molecular Sciences, Queen's University, 18 Stuart Street, Kingston, ON KL7 3N6, Canada
| | - Jane Arciszewski
- Department of Chemistry, McGill University, 801 Sherbrooke St. West, Montréal QC H3A 0B8, Canada
| | - Karine Auclair
- Department of Chemistry, McGill University, 801 Sherbrooke St. West, Montréal QC H3A 0B8, Canada
| | - Zongchao Jia
- Department of Biomedical and Molecular Sciences, Queen's University, 18 Stuart Street, Kingston, ON KL7 3N6, Canada.
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Devi K, Singh AD, Dhiman S, Kour J, Bhardwaj T, Sharma N, Madaan I, Khanna K, Ohri P, Singh AP, Sirhindi G, Bhardwaj R, Kumar V. Current studies on the degradation of microplastics in the terrestrial and aquatic ecosystem. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND POLLUTION RESEARCH INTERNATIONAL 2023; 30:102010-102026. [PMID: 37670091 DOI: 10.1007/s11356-023-29640-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/03/2023] [Accepted: 08/28/2023] [Indexed: 09/07/2023]
Abstract
Soil and water are two important basic ecosystems for the survival of different organisms. The excessive microplastic pollutants in soil have been directly discharged into the terrestrial ecosystems. Microplastic pollutants (MPs) constitute a ubiquitous global menace due to their durability, flexibility, and tough nature. MPs posed threat to the sustainability of the ecosystem due to their small size and easy transportation via ecological series resulting in the accumulation of MPs in aquatic and terrestrial ecosystems. After being emitted into the terrestrial ecosystem, the MPs might be aged by oxidative degeneration (photo/thermal), reprecipitation (bioturbation), and hetero-accumulation. The mechanism of adsorption, degradation, and breakdown of MPs into unaffected plastic debris is accomplished by using several biological, physical, and chemical strategies. This review presents the importance of ecosystems, occurrence and sources of MPs, its toxicity, and the alteration in the ecology of the ecosystems. The inhibitory impact of MPs on the ecosystems also documents to unveil the ecological hazards of MPs. Further research is required to study the immobilization and recovery efficiency of MPs on a larger scale.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kamini Devi
- Department of Botanical and Environmental Sciences, Amritsar, Punjab, 143005, India
| | - Arun Dev Singh
- Department of Botanical and Environmental Sciences, Amritsar, Punjab, 143005, India
| | - Shalini Dhiman
- Department of Botanical and Environmental Sciences, Amritsar, Punjab, 143005, India
| | - Jaspreet Kour
- Department of Botanical and Environmental Sciences, Amritsar, Punjab, 143005, India
| | - Tamanna Bhardwaj
- Department of Botanical and Environmental Sciences, Amritsar, Punjab, 143005, India
| | - Neerja Sharma
- Department of Botanical and Environmental Sciences, Amritsar, Punjab, 143005, India
| | - Isha Madaan
- Government College of Education, Jalandhar, Punjab, 144001, India
- Department of Botany, Punjabi University, Patiala, Punjab, 147002, India
| | - Kanika Khanna
- Department of Botany, D.A.V. University, Jalandhar, Punjab, 144001, India
| | - Puja Ohri
- Department of Zoology, Guru Nanak Dev University, Amritsar, Punjab, 143005, India
| | - Amrit Pal Singh
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Guru Nanak Dev University, Amritsar, Punjab, 143005, India
| | - Geetika Sirhindi
- Department of Botany, Punjabi University, Patiala, Punjab, 147002, India
| | - Renu Bhardwaj
- Department of Botanical and Environmental Sciences, Amritsar, Punjab, 143005, India
| | - Vinod Kumar
- Department of Botany, Government Degree College, Jammu and Kashmir, Ramban, India.
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Bostan N, Ilyas N, Akhtar N, Mehmood S, Saman RU, Sayyed RZ, Shatid AA, Alfaifi MY, Elbehairi SEI, Pandiaraj S. Toxicity assessment of microplastic (MPs); a threat to the ecosystem. ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH 2023; 234:116523. [PMID: 37422115 DOI: 10.1016/j.envres.2023.116523] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/05/2023] [Revised: 06/14/2023] [Accepted: 06/27/2023] [Indexed: 07/10/2023]
Abstract
Plastic is now considered part and parcel of daily life due to its extensive usage. Microplastic (MP) pollution is becoming a growing worry and has been ranked as the second most critical scientific problem in the realm of ecology and the environment. Microplastics are smaller in size than the plastic and are more harmful to biotic and as well as abiotic environments. The toxicity of microplastic depends upon its shape and size and increases with an increase in its adsorption capacity and their toxicity. The reason behind their harmful nature is their small size and their large surface area-to-volume ratio. Microplastic can get inside fruits, vegetables, seeds, roots, culms, and leaves. Hence microplastic enters into the food chain. There are different entry points for microplastic to enter into the food chain. Such sources can include polluted food, beverages, spices, plastic toys, and household (packing, cooking, etc.). The concentration of microplastic in terrestrial environments is increasing day by day. Microplastic causes the destruction of soil structure; destroys soil microbiota, cause depletion of nutrients in the soil, and their absorption by plants decreases plant growth. Apart from other environmental problems caused by microplastic, human health is also badly affected by microplastic pollution present in the terrestrial environment. The presence of microplastics in the human body has been confirmed. Microplastic enters into the body of humans in different possible ways. According to their way of entering the body, microplastics cause different diseases in humans. MPs also cause negative effects on the human endocrine system. At the ecosystem level, the impacts of microplastic are interconnected and can disrupt ecological processes. Although recently different papers have been published on several aspects of the microplastic present in the terrestrial environment but there is no complete overview that focus on the interrelationship of MPs in plants, and soil and their effect on higher animals like a human. This review provides a completely detailed overview of existing knowledge about sources, occurrences, transport, and effects of microplastic on the food chain and soil quality and their ecotoxicological effects on plants and humans.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nageen Bostan
- Department of Botany, PMAS Arid Agriculture University Rawalpindi, 46300, Pakistan.
| | - Noshin Ilyas
- Department of Botany, PMAS Arid Agriculture University Rawalpindi, 46300, Pakistan.
| | - Nosheen Akhtar
- Department of Botany, PMAS Arid Agriculture University Rawalpindi, 46300, Pakistan.
| | - Sabiha Mehmood
- Department of Botany, PMAS Arid Agriculture University Rawalpindi, 46300, Pakistan.
| | - Rafia Urooj Saman
- Department of Botany University of Agriculture Faisalabad, Pakistan.
| | - R Z Sayyed
- Faculty of Health and Life Sciences, INTI International University, 71800, Nilai, Negeri Sembilan, Malaysia.
| | - Ali A Shatid
- Biology Department, Faculty of Science, King Khalid University, Abha, 9004, Saudi Arabia.
| | - Mohammad Y Alfaifi
- Biology Department, Faculty of Science, King Khalid University, Abha, 9004, Saudi Arabia.
| | | | - Saravanan Pandiaraj
- Department of Self-Development Skills, King Saud University, Riyadh, 11451, Saudi Arabia.
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47
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Duan S, Zhang N, Chao T, Wu Y, Wang M. The structural and molecular mechanisms of type II PETases: a mini review. Biotechnol Lett 2023; 45:1249-1263. [PMID: 37535135 DOI: 10.1007/s10529-023-03418-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/21/2023] [Accepted: 07/15/2023] [Indexed: 08/04/2023]
Abstract
The advent of plastics has led to significant advances for humans, although the accompanying pollution has also been a source of concern for countries globally. Consequently, a biological method to effectively degrade polyethylene terephthalate (PET) has been an area of significant scientific interest. Following the report of the highly efficient PET hydrolase from the bacterium Ideonella sakaiensis strain 201-F6 (i.e., IsPETase) in 2016, its structure has been extensively studied, showing that it belongs to the type II PETase group. Unlike type I PETases that include most known cutinases, structural investigations of type II PETases have only been conducted since 2017. Type II PETases are further divided into type IIa and IIb enzymes. Moreover, even less research has been conducted on type IIa plastic-degrading enzymes. Here, we present a review of recent studies of the structure and mechanism of type II PETases, using the known structure of the type IIa PETase PE-H from the marine bacterium Pseudomonas aestusnigri in addition to the type IIb enzyme IsPETase as representatives. These studies have provided new insights into the structural features of type II PETases that exhibit PET catalytic activity. In addition, recent studies investigating the rational design of IsPETases are reviewed and summarized alongside a discussion of controversies surrounding PETase investigations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shuyan Duan
- College of Food Science and Pharmaceutical Engineering, Zaozhuang University, Zaozhuang, 277160, Shandong, China.
| | - Nan Zhang
- College of Food Science and Pharmaceutical Engineering, Zaozhuang University, Zaozhuang, 277160, Shandong, China
| | - Tianzhu Chao
- College of Food Science and Pharmaceutical Engineering, Zaozhuang University, Zaozhuang, 277160, Shandong, China
| | - Yaoyao Wu
- College of Food Science and Pharmaceutical Engineering, Zaozhuang University, Zaozhuang, 277160, Shandong, China
| | - Mengying Wang
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Southern University of Science and Technology, Shenzhen, 518055, Guangdong, China.
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48
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Jahanshahi DA, Ariaeenejad S, Kavousi K. A metagenomic catalog for exploring the plastizymes landscape covering taxa, genes, and proteins. Sci Rep 2023; 13:16029. [PMID: 37749380 PMCID: PMC10519993 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-023-43042-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/24/2023] [Accepted: 09/18/2023] [Indexed: 09/27/2023] Open
Abstract
There are significant environmental and health concerns associated with the current inefficient plastic recycling process. This study presents the first integrated reference catalog of plastic-contaminated environments obtained using an insilico workflow that could play a significant role in discovering new plastizymes. Here, we combined 66 whole metagenomic data from plastic-contaminated environment samples from four previously collected metagenome data with our new sample. In this study, an integrated plastic-contaminated environment gene, protein, taxa, and plastic degrading enzyme catalog (PDEC) was constructed. These catalogs contain 53,300,583 non-redundant genes and proteins, 691 metagenome-assembled genomes, and 136,654 plastizymes. Based on KEGG and eggNOG annotations, 42% of recognized genes lack annotations, indicating their functions remain elusive and warrant further investigation. Additionally, the PDEC catalog highlights hydrolases, peroxidases, and cutinases as the prevailing plastizymes. Ultimately, following multiple validation procedures, our effort focused on pinpointing enzymes that exhibited the highest similarity to the introduced plastizymes in terms of both sequence and three-dimensional structural aspects. This encompassed evaluating the linear composition of constituent units as well as the complex spatial conformation of the molecule. The resulting catalog is expected to improve the resolution of future multi-omics studies, providing new insights into plastic-pollution related research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Donya Afshar Jahanshahi
- Department of Bioinformatics, Kish International Campus University of Tehran, Kish, Iran
- Laboratory of Complex Biological Systems and Bioinformatics (CBB), Department of Bioinformatics, Institute of Biochemistry and Biophysics (IBB), University of Tehran, Tehran, Iran
| | - Shohreh Ariaeenejad
- Department of Systems and Synthetic Biology, Agricultural Biotechnology Research Institute of Iran (ABRII), Agricultural Research Education and Extension Organization (AREEO), Karaj, Iran
| | - Kaveh Kavousi
- Laboratory of Complex Biological Systems and Bioinformatics (CBB), Department of Bioinformatics, Institute of Biochemistry and Biophysics (IBB), University of Tehran, Tehran, Iran.
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49
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Spínola-Amilibia M, Illanes-Vicioso R, Ruiz-López E, Colomer-Vidal P, Rodriguez-Ventura F, Peces Pérez R, Arias CF, Torroba T, Solà M, Arias-Palomo E, Bertocchini F. Plastic degradation by insect hexamerins: Near-atomic resolution structures of the polyethylene-degrading proteins from the wax worm saliva. SCIENCE ADVANCES 2023; 9:eadi6813. [PMID: 37729416 PMCID: PMC10511194 DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.adi6813] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/17/2023] [Accepted: 08/15/2023] [Indexed: 09/22/2023]
Abstract
Plastic waste management is a pressing ecological, social, and economic challenge. The saliva of the lepidopteran Galleria mellonella larvae is capable of oxidizing and depolymerizing polyethylene in hours at room temperature. Here, we analyze by cryo-electron microscopy (cryo-EM) G. mellonella's saliva directly from the native source. The three-dimensional reconstructions reveal that the buccal secretion is mainly composed of four hexamerins belonging to the hemocyanin/phenoloxidase family, renamed Demetra, Cibeles, Ceres, and a previously unidentified factor termed Cora. Functional assays show that this factor, as its counterparts Demetra and Ceres, is also able to oxidize and degrade polyethylene. The cryo-EM data and the x-ray analysis from purified fractions show that they self-assemble primarily into three macromolecular complexes with striking structural differences that likely modulate their activity. Overall, these results establish the ground to further explore the hexamerins' functionalities, their role in vivo, and their eventual biotechnological application.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mercedes Spínola-Amilibia
- Department of Structural and Chemical Biology, Centro de Investigaciones Biológicas Margarita Salas, CSIC, 28040 Madrid, Spain
| | - Ramiro Illanes-Vicioso
- Department of Structural Biology, Molecular Biology Institute of Barcelona (IBMB), CSIC, Barcelona Science Park, 08028 Barcelona, Spain
| | - Elena Ruiz-López
- Department of Structural Biology, Molecular Biology Institute of Barcelona (IBMB), CSIC, Barcelona Science Park, 08028 Barcelona, Spain
| | - Pere Colomer-Vidal
- Department of Plant and Microbial Biology, Centro de Investigaciones Biológicas Margarita Salas, CSIC, 28040 Madrid, Spain
| | - Francisco Rodriguez-Ventura
- Department of Plant and Microbial Biology, Centro de Investigaciones Biológicas Margarita Salas, CSIC, 28040 Madrid, Spain
| | - Rosa Peces Pérez
- Department of Plant and Microbial Biology, Centro de Investigaciones Biológicas Margarita Salas, CSIC, 28040 Madrid, Spain
| | - Clemente F. Arias
- Department of Plant and Microbial Biology, Centro de Investigaciones Biológicas Margarita Salas, CSIC, 28040 Madrid, Spain
- Grupo Interdisciplinar de Sistemas Complejos, GISC, Madrid, Spain
| | - Tomas Torroba
- Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Science and PCT, University of Burgos, Burgos, Spain
| | - Maria Solà
- Department of Structural Biology, Molecular Biology Institute of Barcelona (IBMB), CSIC, Barcelona Science Park, 08028 Barcelona, Spain
| | - Ernesto Arias-Palomo
- Department of Structural and Chemical Biology, Centro de Investigaciones Biológicas Margarita Salas, CSIC, 28040 Madrid, Spain
| | - Federica Bertocchini
- Department of Plant and Microbial Biology, Centro de Investigaciones Biológicas Margarita Salas, CSIC, 28040 Madrid, Spain
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50
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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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