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Priestia megaterium Jou-S14 degrades highly crystalline polyethylene terephthalate microplastics
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Researchers isolated a coastal bacterium, Priestia megaterium Jou-S14, capable of degrading highly crystalline PET microplastics that typically resist enzymatic breakdown, achieving weight losses of over 5% in 30 days. Genomic analysis identified a novel PET hydrolase enzyme (PmPETase) with an active catalytic triad, expanding the known repertoire of marine microorganisms that can degrade recalcitrant plastic polymers.
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