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The programmed sequence-based oxygenase screening for polypropylene degradation
Summary
Scientists identified a bacterial enzyme (HIS1) that can physically break down polypropylene — one of the most chemically stubborn and widely used plastics — by oxidizing its surface and creating visible cracks and holes. This is the first reported case of enzymatic biodegradation of polypropylene and opens the door to biological recycling strategies for a plastic type that has long been considered undegradable.
Enzymatic degradation of plastic is an effective means of plastic recycling and pollution control. However, the strong chemical inertness of polypropylene plastic (PP) severely impedes its oxidative cleavage, making it resistant to degradation. In this study, based on sequence screening of Hidden Markov Model (HMM), a dioxygenase (HIS1) was identified and characterized to be effective in PP oxidation. Various kinds of PP products, including plastic films, microplastics, and disposable water cups or bags, were HIS1-degraded with cracks and holes on the surface. The hydrophobic binding was the primary force driving oxidative degradation in the specific cavity of HIS1. The discovery of HIS1 achieved a zero breakthrough in PP biodegradation, providing a promising candidate for the selection and evolution of degrading enzymes.
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