Perspectives on the Role of Enzymatic Biocatalysis for the Degradation of Plastic PET

Plastics are highly durable and widely used materials. Current methodologies of plastic degradation, elimination, and recycling are flawed. In recent years, biodegradation (the usage of microorganisms for material recycling) has grown as a valid alternative to previously used methods. The evolution...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:	International journal of molecular sciences Vol. 22; no. 20; p. 11257
Main Authors:	Magalhães, Rita P, Cunha, Jorge M, Sousa, Sérgio F
Format:	Journal Article
Language:	English
Published:	Switzerland MDPI AG 19-10-2021 MDPI
Subjects:	Amino acids Biocatalysis Biodegradation Biodegradation, Environmental Bioengineering CAD Catalysis Computer aided design Enzymes Enzymes - chemistry Enzymes - metabolism Evolution Genetic engineering MHETase Microorganisms Mutagenesis PET PETase plastic plastic degradation Plastics Plastics - analysis Polyethylene terephthalate Polyethylene Terephthalates - analysis Polymers Protein Engineering Proteins Recycling Review Terephthalic acid Thermal stability Ideonella sakaiensis plastic PETase cutinase MHETase biodegradation plastic degradation LCC PET biocatalysis
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Summary:	Plastics are highly durable and widely used materials. Current methodologies of plastic degradation, elimination, and recycling are flawed. In recent years, biodegradation (the usage of microorganisms for material recycling) has grown as a valid alternative to previously used methods. The evolution of bioengineering techniques and the discovery of novel microorganisms and enzymes with degradation ability have been key. One of the most produced plastics is PET, a long chain polymer of terephthalic acid (TPA) and ethylene glycol (EG) repeating monomers. Many enzymes with PET degradation activity have been discovered, characterized, and engineered in the last few years. However, classification and integrated knowledge of these enzymes are not trivial. Therefore, in this work we present a summary of currently known PET degrading enzymes, focusing on their structural and activity characteristics, and summarizing engineering efforts to improve activity. Although several high potential enzymes have been discovered, further efforts to improve activity and thermal stability are necessary.
ISSN:	1422-0067 1661-6596 1422-0067
DOI:	10.3390/ijms222011257