Tiong E, Koo YS, Bi J, Koduru L, Koh W, Lim YH, Wong FT.2023.Expression and engineering of PET-degrading enzymes from Microbispora, Nonomuraea, and Micromonospora . Appl Environ Microbiol89:e00632-23.https://doi.org/10.1128/aem.00632-23
Abstract:
Low recycling rates coupled with increased production have resulted in an alarming rapid accumulation of a widely used plastic material, polyethylene terephthalate (PET). With the buildup of plastics in our environment, there is an urgent need for more sustainable solutions to process them. Biological methods such as enzyme-catalyzed PET recycling or bioprocessing are potential solutions to this problem. Actinobacteria, known for producing enzymes involved in the degradation of complex organic molecules, are of particular interest due to their potential to produce enzymes that may assimilate plastics. This work expands on the discovery and characterization of new PET-degrading enzymes from the Microbispora, Nonomuraea, and Micromonospora genera. Within the Micromonospora genus, we analyzed enzymes from the polyesterase-lipase-cutinase family with ~60% similarity to leaf-branch compost cutinase (LCC), in which one of the enzymes was found to be capable of breaking down PET and bis(2-hydroxyethyl) terephthalate (BHET) at 45°C–50°C. Moreover, we were able to enhance the enzyme’s depolymerization rate through further engineering, resulting in a two-fold increase in activity.
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Funding Info:
This research / project is supported by the Agency for Science, Technology, and Research (A*STAR) - NA
Grant Reference no. : C211917006
This research / project is supported by the Agency for Science, Technology, and Research (A*STAR) - NA
Grant Reference no. : C211917003
This research / project is supported by the Agency for Science, Technology, and Research (A*STAR) - NA
Grant Reference no. : C233017006
This research / project is supported by the Agency for Science, Technology, and Research (A*STAR) - NA
Grant Reference no. : C233017004
This research / project is supported by the Agency for Science, Technology, and Research (A*STAR) - A*STAR Graduate Academy
Grant Reference no. : NA