Ideonella sakaiensis, PETase, and MHETase: From identification of microbial PET degradation to enzyme characterization

Shosuke Yoshida, Kazumi Hiraga, Ikuo Taniguchi, Kohei Oda

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceedingChapter

13 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

Few reports have described the biological degradation or utilization of poly(ethylene terephthalate) (PET) to support microbial growth. We screened environmental samples from a PET bottle recycling site and identified the microbial consortium no. 46, which degraded amorphous PET at ambient temperature; thereafter, we isolated the resident Ideonella sakaiensis 201-F6 strain responsible for the degradation. We further identified two hydrolytic enzymes from I. sakaiensis, PET hydrolase (PETase) and mono(2-hydroxyethyl) terephthalate hydrolase (MHETase), which synergistically converted PET into its monomeric building blocks. Here, we provide original methods of microbial screening and isolation of PET degrading microbe(s). These novel approaches can be adapted for exploring microorganisms that degrade PET and other plastics. Furthermore, our enzyme assay protocols to characterize PETase and MHETase can be applied to evaluate new enzymes that target PET and its hydrolysates.

Original languageEnglish
Title of host publicationEnzymatic Plastic Degradation
EditorsGert Weber, Uwe T. Bornscheuer, Ren Wei
PublisherAcademic Press Inc.
Pages187-205
Number of pages19
ISBN (Print)9780128220122
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - Jan 2021

Publication series

NameMethods in Enzymology
Volume648
ISSN (Print)0076-6879
ISSN (Electronic)1557-7988

All Science Journal Classification (ASJC) codes

  • Biochemistry
  • Molecular Biology

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