Transcriptomics-Driven Analysis of LDPE Degradation by Pseudomonas Aeruginosa WD4 Isolated from Plastic Waste...

Low-density polyethylene (LDPE) is one of the most widely used polyethylene types that is accumulated in the environment due to its resistant nature. The commonly used packaging materials and polybags are made up of single-use LDPE. The widespread usage and mismanagement of plastic waste disposal are the biggest threats to our ecosystem. Under environmental conditions, the PE materials require a long period to degenerate. The weathering results in the fragmentation of PE in the open environment, which causes the emission of toxic pollutants and several health hazards to living beings. Several microbial communities have been reported in recent years for the biodegradation of the LDPE, but the intrinsic pathways and genes involved in the degradation are still not fully explored. The present study has reported the role of the Pseudomonas strain isolated from the dumpsite in the LDPE degradation. The transcriptomic analysis of the strain Pseudomonas aeruginosa WD4 revealed the genes utilized during the LDPE utilization. The mRNA expression levels of the strain were mapped based on the log fold changes between the presence and absence of LDPE in the culture medium. The upregulation of differentially expressed phage proteins such as PA0720, PA0726, PA0727, PA0728, and PA0719 shows the physiological importance of these genes for LDPE degradation. In earlier studies, it has been reported that these proteins play key role in the formation of biofilms by the Pseudomonas aeruginosa sp.

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s12088-024-01444-x.