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Efficient biodegradation and upcycling of polyethylene terephthalate mediated by cell-factories
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Researchers developed a cocktail of thermophilic enzymes capable of efficiently breaking down PET plastic at elevated temperatures, outperforming single-enzyme approaches. The process not only degrades PET but enables upcycling of the resulting monomers into higher-value products, closing the loop on plastic waste. This thermophilic approach offers practical advantages for industrial-scale enzymatic plastic recycling.
The pervasive accumulation of polyethylene terephthalate (PET) waste has emerged as a critical ecological crisis, which is mainly driven by its recalcitrance to natural degradation and widespread contamination of terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems. In response to this challenge, microbial-mediated PET biodegradation has garnered significant scientific attentions as a sustainable remediation strategy, harnessing the enzymatic cascades of specialized microorganisms to depolymerize PET into bio-assimilable monomers such as terephthalic acid (TPA) and ethylene glycol (EG). In this review, we summarize the extracellular process of PET biodegradation, including microbial attachment, colonization, and direct depolymerization, as well as the metabolic pathways of PET monomers. Strategies for developing PET-degrading chassis cells are also discussed, such as cell surface display, metabolic pathway optimization, and rational design of enzyme-PET interfaces. Microbial-enzyme consortia and molecular engineering of photosynthetic microorganisms also contribute to PET degradation. Although significant progress has been made, challenges remain in enzyme stability, metabolic bottlenecks, industrial scalability, and environmental adaptation. Overall, microbial and enzymatic strategies show great potentials in addressing PET pollution, and future interdisciplinary efforts are needed to overcome these challenges and achieve a sustainable circular plastic economy.
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Metabolic and enzymatic engineering strategies for polyethylene terephthalate degradation and valorization
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Researchers reviewed metabolic and enzymatic engineering strategies for breaking down PET plastic waste, highlighting advances in engineered PETase enzymes and microbial pathways that could enable cost-effective biological recycling of the roughly 29 million metric tons of PET produced annually.
Interfacial engineering-based colonization of biofilms on polyethylene terephthalate (PET) surfaces: Implications for whole-cell biodegradation of microplastics
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This study applied interfacial engineering to promote biofilm colonization on polyethylene terephthalate (PET) surfaces to facilitate enzymatic depolymerization under mild conditions. The engineered biofilm approach enabled efficient PET biodegradation without requiring harsh alkaline conditions or high temperatures, advancing practical plastic bioremediation.
Different aspects of bacterial polyethylene terephthalate biodegradation
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This study reviews how bacteria degrade polyethylene terephthalate (PET) plastic by breaking it down into terephthalic acid and ethylene glycol through the action of PET hydrolase enzymes. While bacterial biodegradation offers an eco-friendly alternative to landfilling or incineration, limitations such as low enzyme stability and inhibition by degradation intermediates must be overcome through genetic and enzyme engineering.
Biodegradation of highly crystallized poly(ethylene terephthalate) through cell surface codisplay of bacterial PETase and hydrophobin
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Researchers engineered yeast cells to display both a PET-degrading enzyme (PETase) and a sticky protein (hydrophobin) on their surface simultaneously, dramatically improving the breakdown of highly crystalline PET plastic — achieving a 329-fold increase in degradation rate compared to the purified enzyme alone. This whole-cell biocatalyst approach could make enzymatic plastic recycling far more practical and efficient.
Towards Synthetic PETtrophy: Engineering Pseudomonas putida for concurrent polyethylene terephthalate (PET) monomer metabolism and PET hydrolase expression
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Researchers engineered the bacterium Pseudomonas putida to simultaneously break down PET plastic monomers and express a PET hydrolase enzyme, enabling one-step PET degradation and growth. The engineered strain successfully metabolized both TPA and EG monomers released during PET hydrolysis. This work advances the development of microbial biocatalysts for plastic recycling and upcycling.
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When a large batch of papers lands in the Atlas, we read through it and send a short write-up of what stood out.