Publication Details

Category Text Publication
Reference Category Journals
DOI 10.1038/s41467-020-19583-2
Licence creative commons licence
Title (Primary) Synergistic biodegradation of aromatic-aliphatic copolyester plastic by a marine microbial consortium
Author Meyer-Cifuentes, I.E.; Werner, J.; Jehmlich, N. ORCID logo ; Will, S.E.; Neumann-Schaal, M.; Öztürk, B.
Source Titel Nature Communications
Year 2020
Department MOLSYB
Volume 11
Page From art. 5790
Language englisch
Supplements https://static-content.springer.com/esm/art%3A10.1038%2Fs41467-020-19583-2/MediaObjects/41467_2020_19583_MOESM1_ESM.pdf
Abstract The degradation of synthetic polymers by marine microorganisms is not as well understood as the degradation of plastics in soil and compost. Here, we use metagenomics, metatranscriptomics and metaproteomics to study the biodegradation of an aromatic-aliphatic copolyester blend by a marine microbial enrichment culture. The culture can use the plastic film as the sole carbon source, reaching maximum conversion to CO2 and biomass in around 15 days. The consortium degrades the polymer synergistically, with different degradation steps being performed by different community members. We identify six putative PETase-like enzymes and four putative MHETase-like enzymes, with the potential to degrade aliphatic-aromatic polymers and their degradation products, respectively. Our results show that, although there are multiple genes and organisms with the potential to perform each degradation step, only a few are active during biodegradation.
Persistent UFZ Identifier https://www.ufz.de/index.php?en=20939&ufzPublicationIdentifier=24064
Meyer-Cifuentes, I.E., Werner, J., Jehmlich, N., Will, S.E., Neumann-Schaal, M., Öztürk, B. (2020):
Synergistic biodegradation of aromatic-aliphatic copolyester plastic by a marine microbial consortium
Nat. Commun. 11 , art. 5790 10.1038/s41467-020-19583-2