Current Understanding on the Heterogenous Expression of Plastic Depolymerising Enzymes in Pichia pastoris

Enzymatic depolymerisation is increasingly recognised as a reliable and environmentally friendly method. The development of this technology hinges on the availability of high-quality enzymes and associated bioreaction systems for upscaling biodegradation. Microbial heterologous expression systems have been studied for meeting this demand. Among these systems, the <i>Pichia pastoris</i> expression system has emerged as a widely used platform for producing secreted heterologous proteins. This article provides an overview of studies involving the recombinant expression of polymer-degrading enzymes using the <i>P. pastoris</i> expression system. Research on <i>P. pastoris</i> expression of interested enzymes with depolymerising ability, including cutinase, lipase, and laccase, are highlighted in the review. The key factors influencing the heterologous expression of polymer-degrading enzymes in <i>P. pastoris</i> are discussed, shedding light on the challenges and opportunities in the development of depolymerising biocatalysts through the <i>P. pastoris</i> expression system.