
Rita Clare, Montana State University.
The image shows the TPADO enzyme.
It is hoped this work will help tackle the challenge of plastic pollution and convert waste plastic into valuable products.
Scientists who helped to pioneer the use of enzymes to eat plastic have taken an important next step in developing nature-based solutions to the global plastics crisis.
They have characterised an enzyme that has the remarkable capacity to help break down terephthalate (TPA), one of the chemical building blocks of polyethylene terephthalate (PET) plastic, which is used to make single-use drinks bottles, clothing and carpets.
The research, which is published in The Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS), was co-led by Professor Jen DuBois, Montana State University, and Professor John McGeehan from the University of Portsmouth, who in 2018 led the international team that engineered a natural enzyme that could break down PET plastic. The enzymes (PETase and MHETase) break the PET polymer into the chemical building blocks ethylene glycol (EG) and TPA. This new research describes the next steps, specifically for managing TPA.
The last few years have seen incredible advances in the engineering of enzymes to break down PET plastic into its building blocks. This work goes a stage further and looks at the first enzyme in a cascade that can deconstruct those building blocks into simpler molecules. These can then be utilised by bacteria to generate sustainable chemicals and materials, essential making valuable products out of plastic waste.
Professor John McGeehan, Director of the University’s Centre for Enzyme Innovation
Professor DuBois said: “While EG is a chemical with many uses – it’s part of the antifreeze you put into your car, for example – TPA does not have many uses outside of PET, nor is it something that most bacteria can even digest. However, the Portsmouth team revealed that an enzyme from PET-consuming bacteria recognises TPA like a hand in a glove. Our group at MSU then demonstrated that this enzyme, called TPADO, breaks down TPA and pretty much only TPA, with amazing efficiency.”
With more than 400 million tons of plastic waste produced each year, the overwhelming majority of which ends up in landfills, it is hoped this work will open the door to improve bacterial enzymes, such as TPADO. This will help tackle the challenge of plastic pollution and develop biological systems that can convert waste plastic into valuable products.
Professor McGeehan, who is the Director of the University’s Centre for Enzyme Innovation, said: “The last few years have seen incredible advances in the engineering of enzymes to break down PET plastic into its building blocks. This work goes a stage further and looks at the first enzyme in a cascade that can deconstruct those building blocks into simpler molecules. These can then be utilised by bacteria to generate sustainable chemicals and materials, essential making valuable products out of plastic waste.
“Using powerful X-ray at the Diamond Light Source, we were able to generate a detailed 3D structure of the TPADO enzyme, revealing how it performs this crucial reaction. This provides researchers with a blueprint for engineering faster and more efficient versions of this complex enzyme.”
Original Article: New enzyme discovery is another leap towards beating plastic waste
More from: University of Portsmouth | Montana State University
The Latest Updates from Bing News & Google News
Go deeper with Bing News on:
Converting waste plastic into valuable products
- Plastic waste an ‘untapped resource’ in the Yukon
The most time-consuming part of creating a product is almost certainly chopping up the larger pieces of waste plastic into sizes small enough to be inserted into the injection moulding machine — a ...
- A new method for turning plastic into oil
The company is pioneering a method for converting plastic waste ... products with a strong odour and unattractive colours. On the other hand, chemical recycling — which converts plastic into ...
- Ayodhya to get a plant to convert plastic waste into automotive fuel
Ayodhya (UP), Nov 22 The Ayodhya administration has entered into an agreement with a private company to responsibly use and convert plastic waste generated here into ... carbon, and its by-products ...
- Ayodhya to get a plant to convert plastic waste into automotive fuel
The Ayodhya administration has entered into an agreement with a private company to responsibly use and convert plastic waste generated ... and its by-products for various industrial usages ...
- Catalytic Conversion of Waste Plastics into Valuable Products
Important Note: All contributions to this Research Topic must be within the scope of the section and journal to which they are submitted, as defined in their mission statements. Frontiers reserves the ...
Go deeper with Google Headlines on:
Converting waste plastic into valuable products
[google_news title=”” keyword=”converting waste plastic into valuable products” num_posts=”5″ blurb_length=”0″ show_thumb=”left”]
Go deeper with Bing News on:
Global plastics crisis
- The plastic pollution crisis
The Mediterranean Sea is a global hotspot for plastic pollution, its semi-enclosed basin concentrating marine litter at levels comparable to those found in the five subtropical gyres 7 ,the most ...
- An ambitious global treaty is the key to ending the age of plastic
A strong Global Plastics Treaty must match the scale of the plastic pollution crisis. We need an agreement that will honour and dignify our coexistence with nature. And we need a treaty that will ...
- Ecojustice expresses disappointment with recent Federal Court ruling on plastic regulation
Environmental law charity Ecojustice has expressed disappointment with the recent Federal Court decision declaring that the government of Canada acted outside its authority when it designated ...
- Africa: Plastic Pollution Crisis Deepens Despite Global Efforts
Interview - Every year, humanity produces a staggering 430 million tonnes of plastic, two-thirds of which quickly becomes waste. This relentless tide of plastic is polluting our land, sea, and air, ...
- Stalemate in UN talks on global plastic pollution treaty: WWF calls for resolute action
WWF has urged nations committed to a strong treaty to stand firm and take the reins in advancing intersessional work over the next five months. The aim is to reinvigorate discussions and work through ...
Go deeper with Google Headlines on:
Global plastics crisis
[google_news title=”” keyword=”global plastics crisis” num_posts=”5″ blurb_length=”0″ show_thumb=”left”]