We can't find the internet
Attempting to reconnect
Something went wrong!
Hang in there while we get back on track
Proteomic examination of polyester‐polyurethane degradation by Streptomyces sp. PU10 : Diverting polyurethane intermediates to secondary metabolite production
AI summary Read the abstract
Researchers found that Streptomyces sp. PU10, isolated from polyurethane-contaminated soil, can degrade over 96% of soluble polyester-polyurethane in 48 hours, and that the bacterium channels degradation byproducts into secondary metabolite biosynthesis — including the bioactive pigment undecylprodigiosin — opening avenues for plastic upcycling.
Global plastic waste accumulation has become omnipresent in public discourse and the focus of scientific research. Ranking as the sixth most produced polymer globally, polyurethanes (PU) significantly contribute to plastic waste and environmental pollution due to the toxicity of their building blocks, such as diisocyanates. In this study, the effects of PU on soil microbial communities over 18 months were monitored revealing that it had marginal effects on microbial diversity. However, Streptomyces sp. PU10, isolated from this PU-contaminated soil, proved exceptional in the degradation of a soluble polyester-PU (Impranil) across a range of temperatures with over 96% degradation of 10 g/L in 48 h. Proteins involved in PU degradation and metabolic changes occurring in this strain with Impranil as the sole carbon source were further investigated employing quantitative proteomics. The proposed degradation mechanism implicated the action of three enzymes: a polyester-degrading esterase, a urethane bond-degrading amidase and an oxidoreductase. Furthermore, proteome data revealed that PU degradation intermediates were incorporated into Streptomyces sp. PU10 metabolism via the fatty acid degradation pathway and subsequently channelled to polyketide biosynthesis. Most notably, the production of the tri-pyrrole undecylprodigiosin was confirmed paving the way for establishing PU upcycling strategies to bioactive metabolites using Streptomyces strains.
More Papers Like This
Isolation, Identification, and Characterization of Novel Environmental Bacteria with Polyurethane-Degrading Activity
AI summary Read the abstract
Researchers isolated 31 bacterial strains from waste sites and identified 12 genera capable of degrading polyurethane, including several genera not previously reported as plastic biodegraders such as Priesta, Dermacoccus, and Gordonia, with the most efficient strains breaking down over 90% of the substrate through protease, urease, and esterase activity.
Biodegradation of Polyurethane by Fungi Isolated from Industrial Wastewater—A Sustainable Approach to Plastic Waste Management
AI summary Read the abstract
Researchers isolated fungal strains from industrial wastewater and demonstrated their capacity to degrade polyurethane through enzymatic mechanisms, identifying promising microbial candidates that could form the basis of sustainable biological treatment systems for PU plastic waste.
Proteomic characterization of Lysinibacillus reveals early-stage PET biodegradation potential
AI summary Read the abstract
A Lysinibacillus sp. strain isolated from Icelandic soil demonstrated faster early-stage growth on PET plastic than the reference strain Ideonella sakaiensis, with surface imaging confirming colonization and erosion, though no canonical PET-degrading enzymes were detected. The strain's novel metabolic reprogramming in response to PET exposure suggests unexplored enzymatic pathways for biodegrading this widely used plastic contributing to global microplastic pollution.
Proteome analysis during polystyrene microplastic biodegradation in filamentous fungi
AI summary Read the abstract
This proteome analysis study examined protein expression changes in filamentous fungi during polystyrene microplastic biodegradation, identifying upregulated enzymes and metabolic pathways involved in PS polymer breakdown that could inform biotechnology-based plastic degradation strategies.
Isolation of a soil bacterium for remediation of polyurethane and low-density polyethylene: a promising tool towards sustainable cleanup of the environment.
AI summary Read the abstract
A soil bacterium tentatively classified in the Pseudomonas genus was found to biodegrade both polyurethane and low-density polyethylene plastics. The discovery of a single bacterial strain capable of degrading two different types of plastic is a step toward developing practical microbial tools for plastic waste remediation.
Research digests by email
When a large batch of papers lands in the Atlas, we read through it and send a short write-up of what stood out.