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Untapped enzymatic potential: dehalogenase- and peroxidase-driven PVC degradation by gene carriers in Tibetan plateau pikas
Summary
Scientists discovered that gut bacteria in a small rabbit-like animal living high in the Tibetan mountains can actually break down PVC plastic (a common type of plastic used in pipes and packaging) using special enzymes. This matters because PVC microplastics have been found even in remote, untouched places on Earth, and finding natural bacteria that can degrade this stubborn plastic could eventually help scientists develop better tools to clean up plastic pollution in the environment we all share.
Wide distribution of polyvinyl chloride microplastics (PVC-MPs) has been documented in remote regions such as the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau (QTP). Microbial degradation of plastics is frequently coupled with lignocellulose-degrading enzymatic machinery. As a ubiquitous biological sampler on the QTP, the herbivore plateau pika ( Ochotona curzoniae ), which harbors diverse lignocellulose-degrading enzymes, represents a promising reservoir for novel PVC-degrading enzymes. In this study, a PVC-MPs feeding trial of plateau pikas revealed gut microbiota recruitment of plastic degraders. Subsequent enrichment experiment yielded a PVC-degrading consortium that depolymerized PVC into long-chain alkanes, with Rhodococcus and Leifsonia identified as PVC-response specialist and generalist, respectively. Multi-omics analysis supported a putative degradation pathway initiated by haloalkane dehalogenase (HLD) and involving oxidases. Furthermore, novel Rh HLD (from Rhodococcus MAG) released 11.5 mg L −1 chloride ions from PVC films, whereas dye-decolorizing peroxidase Le DyP from Leifsonia MAG generated PVC-degrading intermediates. Analysis of 39 metagenomic datasets further confirmed that haloalkane dehalogenase and dye-decolorizing peroxidase are prevalent in the gut of wild pikas. This study elucidates the PVC-degrading potential of herbivore gut microbiota and expands the catalytic toolkit for plastic bioremediation, underscoring the bioprospecting potential in extreme ecosystems Video Abstract