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Enzymatic Biodegradation of PET Plastics
Summary
Plastic bottles and containers (made of PET) don't break down naturally—they just crumble into tiny microplastic pieces that end up in our food, water, and eventually our bodies. This review paper explains how scientists are studying special bacterial enzymes (called PETase and MHETase) that can actually digest PET plastic into harmless building blocks, offering a promising tool for cleaning up plastic pollution before it becomes a bigger health problem.
Plastic pollution, specifically from polyethylene terephthalate (PET), is a rising global concern. The ever-increasing demand of PET, coupled with its resistance to natural degradation, poses a significant threat to both the ecosystem as well as human health. Due to improper disposal and environmental wear, PET undergoes fragmentation into microplastics that often enter the food chain of various organisms. This chapter highlights the promising role of microbial enzymes, particularly PETase and its engineered variants involved in the biodegradation of PET. The synergistic activity of PETase and MHETase has been emphasized. PET is broken down by PETase into intermediate products like mono-(2-hydroxyethyl) terephthalate, which undergoes further hydrolysis by MHETase to produce terephthalic acid and ethylene glycol. A structural overview of PETase along with its mechanism of action is discussed in detail. By highlighting key applications and future prospects, this chapter underscores vital role of microbiology in sustainable development.