Discovery of Polyesterases from Moss-Associated Microorganisms

Area of Science:

• Biotechnology
• Environmental Science
• Microbiology

Background:

• Plastic debris pollution necessitates innovative biotechnological recycling solutions.
• Enzymatic recycling offers a sustainable method for plastic degradation and resource recovery.
• Microbial communities associated with unique ecosystems are potential sources of novel enzymes.

Purpose of the Study:

• To explore microbial polyesterases in Sphagnum magellanicum moss for plastic degradation.
• To identify and characterize novel esterases capable of hydrolyzing synthetic polyesters.
• To assess the potential of these enzymes for biotechnological applications in plastic recycling.

Main Methods:

• Isolation and heterologous expression of six novel esterases in Escherichia coli.
• Hydrolysis assays using poly(butylene adipate-co-butylene terephthalate) (PBAT) and bis[4-(benzoyloxy)butyl] terephthalate (BaBTaBBa).
• Purification and characterization of promising candidates EstB3 and EstC7, including kinetic analysis.

Main Results:

• Identification of six novel esterases from Sphagnum moss-associated microbes.
• Demonstrated hydrolysis of PBAT and BaBTaBBa by the identified esterases.
• EstB3 and EstC7 exhibited optimal activity at specific temperatures and pH levels, with EstC7 showing high PBAT hydrolysis activity.

Conclusions:

• Plant-associated microbiomes, particularly from extreme environments, are valuable sources of novel hydrolytic enzymes.
• The discovered polyesterases, especially EstC7, show significant potential for the enzymatic recycling of PBAT.
• This research contributes to developing sustainable biotechnological solutions for plastic waste management.