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From Microplastics to “Mycoplastics”: Enzymatic Conversion of Oxidized Polystyrene into Humic Acid-like Products
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Scientists discovered that a natural enzyme from fungi can transform harmful chemicals that leak from broken-down plastic waste into safer, soil-like compounds. This process could help clean up plastic pollution in the environment by converting toxic plastic byproducts into materials that might actually help remove other pollutants from soil and water. The finding offers hope for new ways to tackle the growing problem of microplastics and their harmful effects on ecosystems and potentially human health.
The environmental degradation of plastics results not only in their mechanical fragmentation into microplastics (MPs), but also in polymer main-chain scission processes, causing continuous leaching and/or volatilization of low-molecular-weight species, often characterized by a hazardous profile. In this study, we investigated the hydrophilic photooxidation products (HyPOPs) generated upon UV irradiation of polystyrene (PS) and their transformation catalyzed by the enzyme laccase from the fungus Trametes versicolor. Through a series of enzymatic tests, the enzyme was found to promote coupling and conjugation reactions of HyPOPs into poorly soluble compounds mimicking natural humic acids. The enzymatic activity of laccase was studied under different experimental conditions to simulate those found in environmental matrices. Due to their oligomeric nature, these humic acid-like products of metabolic transformation by the fungal laccase are here nicknamed “mycoplastics” (i.e., polymers from fungi). This enzymatic biodegradation and biotransformation of xenobiotic HyPOPs highlights the role of specific enzymes as biological tools for environmental self-repair of polluted ecosystems. Moreover, it opens new perspectives for remediation strategies targeting elusive micro- and nanoplastics and their continuously generated hazardous molecular degradation by-products. Humic acid-like products resulting from laccase conversion of HyPOPs could contribute to the rehabilitation of contaminated sites by promoting the removal of toxic contaminants from soil and water.
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Microplastics are tiny plastic particles that build up in our environment—and our bodies—because they barely break down naturally. This review pulls together current research on certain fungi that produce special enzymes capable of breaking down these plastics, suggesting a promising, more natural cleanup method. While the science is still developing and not yet ready for widespread use, it offers hope for reducing microplastic pollution that could otherwise keep accumulating in our food, water, and bodies.
Microbial transformation of plastics: A possible pathway to sustainable waste reduction
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Researchers isolated bacteria and fungi from plastic waste samples and tested their ability to break down plastic in the lab. Fungi, especially Aspergillus species, broke down plastic more effectively than bacteria, and the microbes produced enzymes linked to this process, suggesting a possible role in managing plastic waste.
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This review surveys microorganisms—bacteria, fungi, and other taxa—capable of degrading microplastics, examining the enzymes, metabolic pathways, and environmental conditions involved, and assessing the practical potential of harnessing these organisms for bioremediation of plastic pollution.
Fungal potential for the degradation of petroleum-based polymers: An overview of macro- and microplastics biodegradation
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This review examines the potential of fungi to break down petroleum-based plastics, highlighting their unique ability to produce enzymes capable of degrading complex polymers. Researchers found that certain fungal species can use plastic materials as their sole carbon and energy source, offering a promising biological approach to plastic waste remediation. The study calls for further research on novel fungal isolates and molecular techniques to enhance plastic biodegradation processes.
Bioremediation of plastics by the help of microbial tool: A way for control of plastic pollution
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This review covers how bacteria and fungi can be used to break down plastic waste, including microplastics, through natural biological processes. Various microorganisms can degrade different types of plastics by producing specific enzymes, though the process is slow and depends on the plastic type and environmental conditions. While biological degradation shows promise for reducing microplastic pollution in soil and water, much more research is needed to make it effective enough to address the scale of the problem.
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