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Proteome analysis during polystyrene microplastic biodegradation in filamentous fungi
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This proteome analysis study examined protein expression changes in filamentous fungi during polystyrene microplastic biodegradation, identifying upregulated enzymes and metabolic pathways involved in PS polymer breakdown that could inform biotechnology-based plastic degradation strategies.
A crescente contaminação ambiental por microplásticos, especialmente poliestireno (PS), representa um desafio global devido à sua persistência, baixa taxa de degradação e acúmulo em ecossistemas. Esses resíduos têm sido detectados em solos, corpos d’água e até organismos vivos, levantando preocupações sobre seus impactos ecológicos e à saúde humana. Frente à limitada eficiência dos métodos físicos e químicos tradicionais para eliminar esses poluentes, a biodegradação por fungos filamentosos surge como uma alternativa promissora. O presente estudo investigou o potencial de biodegradação de microplásticos de poliestireno pelo fungo Aspergillus tubingensis, por meio de análises proteômica e Espectroscopia no Infravermelho por Transformada de Fourier (FTIR) ao longo de 35 dias. As análises identificaram variações significativas na expressão de proteínas intracelulares entre os grupos controle e experimental, especialmente enzimas envolvidas em processos oxidativos, hidrolíticos e de detoxificação, como peroxidases, esterases, lipases, glutationa S-transferases e superóxido dismutase. As respostas metabólicas foram temporais, com pico de atividade nas fases intermediárias (dias 21 e 28), seguidas por uma estabilização no perfil proteômico no dia 35. As alterações estruturais do PS, evidenciadas por FTIR, reforçaram a ocorrência de oxidação superficial do polímero. Embora não tenha havido aumento significativo de biomassa, observou-se forte adesão do micélio ao plástico e resposta enzimática compatível com processos de biofragmentação. A ontologia gênica revelou processos biológicos ligados à síntese proteica, metabolismo secundário, resposta ao estresse e transporte ativo, especialmente no grupo experimental. Os achados indicam que A. tubingensis apresenta plasticidade metabólica e capacidade de modular seu proteoma frente à presença de poliestireno, sugerindo seu potencial para futuras estratégias de biorremediação de microplásticos no ambiente.
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