Jove
Visualize
Contact Us
JoVE
x logofacebook logolinkedin logoyoutube logo
ABOUT JoVE
OverviewLeadershipBlogJoVE Help Center
AUTHORS
Publishing ProcessEditorial BoardScope & PoliciesPeer ReviewFAQSubmit
LIBRARIANS
TestimonialsSubscriptionsAccessResourcesLibrary Advisory BoardFAQ
RESEARCH
JoVE JournalMethods CollectionsJoVE Encyclopedia of ExperimentsArchive
EDUCATION
JoVE CoreJoVE BusinessJoVE Science EducationJoVE Lab ManualFaculty Resource CenterFaculty Site
Terms & Conditions of Use
Privacy Policy
Policies

Related Concept Videos

Types of Step-Growth Polymers: Polyesters01:20

Types of Step-Growth Polymers: Polyesters

2.4K
The introduction of polyesters has brought major development to the textile industry. The wrinkle-free behavior of polyester blends has eliminated the need for starching and ironing clothes.
Polyesters are commonly prepared from terephthalic acid and ethylene glycol; the crude product is known as poly(ethylene terephthalate) or PET. However, polyesters are synthesized industrially by transesterification of dimethyl terephthalate with ethylene glycol at 150 °C. The two reactants and the polymer...
2.4K
Bioremediation00:46

Bioremediation

21.5K
Bioremediation is the use of prokaryotes, fungi, or plants to remove pollutants from the environment. This process has been used to remove harmful toxins in groundwater as a byproduct of agricultural run-off and also to clean up oil spills.
21.5K
Environmental Applications of Microorganisms01:30

Environmental Applications of Microorganisms

542
Microorganisms play a pivotal role in maintaining ecosystem balance by recycling essential elements such as carbon, nitrogen, and phosphorus, as well as supporting processes like bioremediation, wastewater treatment, and biofuel production.Microbes in Elemental CyclesIn the carbon cycle, microorganisms decompose organic matter, releasing carbon dioxide via aerobic respiration. This carbon dioxide is subsequently used by photosynthetic organisms to synthesize organic compounds, closing the...
542
Olefin Metathesis Polymerization: Acyclic Diene Metathesis (ADMET)00:53

Olefin Metathesis Polymerization: Acyclic Diene Metathesis (ADMET)

2.0K
Acyclic diene metathesis polymerization or ADMET polymerization involves cross-metathesis of terminal dienes, such as 1,8-nonadiene, to give linear unsaturated polymer and ethylene. As ADMET is a reversible process, the formed ethylene gas must be removed from the reaction mixture to complete the polymerization process.
Similar to cross-metathesis, ADMET also involves the formation of metallacyclobutane intermediate by [2+2] cycloaddition of one of the double bonds of a terminal diene with...
2.0K
Free-Radical Chain Reaction and Polymerization of Alkenes02:35

Free-Radical Chain Reaction and Polymerization of Alkenes

8.6K
The conversion of alkenes to macromolecules called polymers is a reaction of high commercial importance. The structure of the polymer is defined by a repeating unit, while the terminal groups are considered insignificant. The average degree of polymerization represents the number of repeating units in the polymer molecule and is denoted by the subscript n.
8.6K
Lipid Catabolism01:25

Lipid Catabolism

408
Triglycerides serve as crucial long-term energy storage molecules in microorganisms, providing a dense source of metabolic energy. Their breakdown is mediated by lipases, which hydrolyze triglycerides into glycerol and free fatty acids. Each of these components follows distinct metabolic pathways, ultimately contributing to ATP synthesis and cellular energy homeostasis.Glycerol MetabolismGlycerol, released from triglyceride hydrolysis, is phosphorylated by glycerol kinase to form...
408

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by
Same author

A catabolic powerhouse for biorefineries: characterization and engineering Erwinia spp. strain LJJL01 to produce bioproducts.

Trends in biotechnology·2026
Same author

Complete genome of <i>Erwinia spp. str</i>. LJJL01 isolated from waste charcoal.

Microbiology resource announcements·2025
Same author

Next-generation 3D-printed nutritious food derived from waste plastic and biomass.

Trends in biotechnology·2024
Same author

Trends in <i>in-silico</i> guided engineering of efficient polyethylene terephthalate (PET) hydrolyzing enzymes to enable bio-recycling and upcycling of PET.

Computational and structural biotechnology journal·2023
Same author

Repurposing of waste PET by microbial biotransformation to functionalized materials for additive manufacturing.

Journal of industrial microbiology & biotechnology·2023
Same author

Opportunities in the microbial valorization of sugar industrial organic waste to biodegradable smart food packaging materials.

International journal of food microbiology·2022

Related Experiment Video

Updated: Nov 2, 2025

Scalable Step-by-Step Approach of Sustainable Bioplastic Production from Food Waste
08:14

Scalable Step-by-Step Approach of Sustainable Bioplastic Production from Food Waste

Published on: July 18, 2025

595

Engineering Microbes to Bio-Upcycle Polyethylene Terephthalate.

Lakshika Dissanayake1, Lahiru N Jayakody1,2

  • 1School of Biological Sciences, Southern Illinois University, Carbondale, IL, United States.

Frontiers in Bioengineering and Biotechnology
|June 14, 2021
PubMed
Summary

Waste polyethylene terephthalate (PET) pollution is a global crisis. Microbial upcycling offers a sustainable solution by converting PET into higher-value products, promoting a circular economy.

Keywords:
PET degradationbio-upcyclingmetabolic engineeringpolyethylene terephthalatesynthetic microbes

More Related Videos

Designed for Molecular Recycling: A Lignin-Derived Semi-aromatic Biobased Polymer
10:22

Designed for Molecular Recycling: A Lignin-Derived Semi-aromatic Biobased Polymer

Published on: November 30, 2020

3.7K
Bioprospecting of Extremophilic Microorganisms to Address Environmental Pollution
07:20

Bioprospecting of Extremophilic Microorganisms to Address Environmental Pollution

Published on: December 30, 2021

3.9K

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: Nov 2, 2025

Scalable Step-by-Step Approach of Sustainable Bioplastic Production from Food Waste
08:14

Scalable Step-by-Step Approach of Sustainable Bioplastic Production from Food Waste

Published on: July 18, 2025

595
Designed for Molecular Recycling: A Lignin-Derived Semi-aromatic Biobased Polymer
10:22

Designed for Molecular Recycling: A Lignin-Derived Semi-aromatic Biobased Polymer

Published on: November 30, 2020

3.7K
Bioprospecting of Extremophilic Microorganisms to Address Environmental Pollution
07:20

Bioprospecting of Extremophilic Microorganisms to Address Environmental Pollution

Published on: December 30, 2021

3.9K

Area of Science:

  • Biotechnology and Environmental Science
  • Polymer Science and Engineering
  • Synthetic Biology

Background:

  • Polyethylene terephthalate (PET) is a widely produced plastic with low recycling rates, contributing significantly to global pollution.
  • Current recycling methods for PET are often costly and inefficient, necessitating innovative upcycling strategies.
  • The environmental impact of PET waste necessitates the development of sustainable solutions for its management and valorization.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review recent advancements in engineering microbes for PET upcycling.
  • To explore biological and hybrid chemocatalytic-biological strategies for converting PET into high-value products.
  • To highlight metabolic pathways for bio-upcycling PET-derived monomers into valuable chemicals.

Main Methods:

  • Identification and characterization of PET-degrading microbes and PET hydrolase enzymes.
  • Engineering of enzymes for selective depolymerization of PET into monomers (terephthalic acid, ethylene glycol).
  • Application of synthetic microbiology and metabolic engineering for developing microbial cell factories.

Main Results:

  • Successful engineering of enzymes for efficient PET depolymerization.
  • Development of microbial cell factories capable of converting PET monomers into value-added products.
  • Identification of potent metabolic pathways for the bio-upcycling of PET.

Conclusions:

  • Engineered microbes offer a promising route for PET upcycling, creating higher-value products.
  • Biological and hybrid strategies can effectively transform waste PET into valuable chemical building blocks.
  • Synthetic microbes can drive a circular economy for PET, reducing environmental impact and incentivizing reclamation.