Microbe found in landfill can help solve plastic waste problem

In the laboratory, an enzyme has been created that can “digest” plastic. Scientists made the discovery when they studied a microbe with the same ability found in a plastic landfill in Japan. The research is published in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.

In 2016, a bacterium Ideonella sakaiensis was found in the soil near a plastic recycling site in Japan, which, as it turned out, could process polyethylene terephthalate (PET) (it is widely used to create packaging and containers). After the discovery of an unusual bacterium, it became clear that it degrades plastic using an enzyme called PETase. In the process of studying this enzyme, scientists accidentally created its artificial modification, which can “eat” plastic even faster.

To determine the mechanism of action of PETase, scientists have slightly “edited” the composition of the enzyme. The researchers speculated that they would make PETase more similar to the well-known enzyme cutinase (it breaks down cutin, a type of wax found, for example, in plant leaves). However, unexpectedly for themselves, scientists have created a version of PETase, which “digests” plastic much more efficiently.

The modified enzyme degrades plastic 20% faster than natural PETase. However, scientists suggest that this is not the limit – the ability of an artificial enzyme to process plastic can be improved further, knowing how it works. Moreover, modified PETase can “digest” plastic, polyethylene furandicarboxylate (PEF), but a natural enzyme is not capable of this.

Scientists state that it is necessary to continue modifying the PETase enzyme in order to obtain its fastest and most effective modification. Source: indicator.ru