We can't find the internet
Attempting to reconnect
Something went wrong!
Hang in there while we get back on track
Novel putative PETase candidates from metagenomic mining of Ebrié lagoon and Kassembié lake, Côte d'Ivoire
AI summary Read the abstract
Researchers applied shotgun metagenomics to sediment samples from a heavily polluted Ivorian lagoon and a reference lake, identifying four novel putative PETase enzymes through AlphaFold2 structural validation — demonstrating that plastic-polluted West African aquatic ecosystems harbor untapped enzymatic potential for PET biodegradation.
Microplastic pollution poses a growing threat to Ivorian aquatic ecosystems, especially in urban areas where solid waste management remains inadequate. The Ébrié lagoon receives around 200,000 tons of plastic waste each year, much of which ends up in the form of microparticles in the water and sediments. Considering this, the enzymatic biodegradation of polyethylene terephthalate (PET) represents a promising bioremediation pathway, but the microorganisms capable of contributing to it in this ecosystem have remained unknown until now. This study applied a comparative shotgun metagenomic approach to samples taken from two sites with distinct levels of contamination: Biétry Bay (polluted site) and Lake Kassembié (reference site). The taxonomic analysis revealed a high microbial diversity at the two sites, with 131 unclassified bacterial species, 58% of which were exclusive to the polluted site. Functional annotation identified 15,860 hydrolases encoding genes and 195 genes from the CE1 carbohydrate esterase family. Structural validation by AlphaFold2 and TM-align identified four new putative PETases, designated BietPETase1 to BietPETase4. These results demonstrate that the microbiome of the Ébrié lagoon constitutes a reservoir of enzymes degrading PET and underline the potential of metagenomics for the discovery of plastizymes in aquatic ecosystems of Côte d'Ivoire.
More Papers Like This
Novel PETase candidates identified through metagenomic mining of the Kassembié and Biétry microplastic-polluted environments (Côte d'Ivoire)
AI summary Read the abstract
Supporting data from metagenomic mining of microplastic-polluted sites in Côte d'Ivoire identified new PETase enzyme candidates capable of degrading PET plastics. Bioprospecting in contaminated environments for plastic-degrading microbes offers a scalable, nature-based strategy for tackling the persistent accumulation of plastic waste in vulnerable ecosystems.
Novel PETase candidates identified through metagenomic mining of the Kassembié and Biétry microplastic-polluted environments (Côte d'Ivoire)
AI summary Read the abstract
Metagenomic mining of microplastic-polluted environments in Côte d'Ivoire identified novel PETase enzyme candidates capable of degrading PET plastic. Discovering indigenous plastic-degrading enzymes in contaminated environments advances bioremediation strategies for addressing the growing burden of plastic pollution in West African waterways and soils.
Widespread distribution of bacteria containing PETases with a functional motif across global oceans
AI summary Read the abstract
Using bioinformatics and AI-based protein structure prediction, researchers developed an algorithm to distinguish functional PET-degrading enzymes (PETases) from non-functional variants, identifying a high-confidence sequence motif for active PETases. Metagenomic analysis of 415 ocean samples revealed 23 PETase variants in nearly 80% of samples, predominantly between 1,000–2,000 meters depth and at the surface in high-pollution regions, with ocean PETases mainly encoded by Pseudomonadales bacteria.
Bioprospecting for polyesterase activity relevant for PET degradation in marine Enterobacterales isolates
AI summary Read the abstract
Researchers screened marine Enterobacterales isolates for polyesterase activity capable of degrading PET plastic, identifying bacterial strains from marine environments as candidates for bioremediation strategies targeting one of the world's most problematic plastic pollutants.
A sequence- and structure-based characterization of microbial enzymes identifies P. stutzeri as a plastic-degrading species
AI summary Read the abstract
Researchers characterized microbial enzymes with potential plastic-degrading capabilities, focusing on PETase and MHETase enzyme systems. The study identified Pseudomonas stutzeri as a species with notable plastic degradation potential, contributing to the growing understanding of biological approaches for addressing plastic pollution through enzymatic bioremediation.
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.