Microbial Consortia and Mixed Plastic Waste: Pangenomic Analysis Reveals Potential for Degradation of Multiple Plastic Types via Previously Identified PET Degrading Bacteria
The global utilization of single-use, non-biodegradable plastics, such as bottles made of polyethylene terephthalate (PET), has contributed to catastrophic levels of plastic pollution. Fortunately, microbial communities are adapting to assimilate plastic waste. Previously, our work showed a full con...
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| Format: | Article |
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MDPI AG
2022-05-01
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| Series: | International Journal of Molecular Sciences |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/1422-0067/23/10/5612 |
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| author | Sabrina Edwards Rosa León-Zayas Riyaz Ditter Helen Laster Grace Sheehan Oliver Anderson Toby Beattie Jay L. Mellies |
| author_facet | Sabrina Edwards Rosa León-Zayas Riyaz Ditter Helen Laster Grace Sheehan Oliver Anderson Toby Beattie Jay L. Mellies |
| author_sort | Sabrina Edwards |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | The global utilization of single-use, non-biodegradable plastics, such as bottles made of polyethylene terephthalate (PET), has contributed to catastrophic levels of plastic pollution. Fortunately, microbial communities are adapting to assimilate plastic waste. Previously, our work showed a full consortium of five bacteria capable of synergistically degrading PET. Using omics approaches, we identified the key genes implicated in PET degradation within the consortium’s pangenome and transcriptome. This analysis led to the discovery of a novel PETase, EstB, which has been observed to hydrolyze the oligomer BHET and the polymer PET. Besides the genes implicated in PET degradation, many other biodegradation genes were discovered. Over 200 plastic and plasticizer degradation-related genes were discovered through the Plastic Microbial Biodegradation Database (PMBD). Diverse carbon source utilization was observed by a microbial community-based assay, which, paired with an abundant number of plastic- and plasticizer-degrading enzymes, indicates a promising possibility for mixed plastic degradation. Using RNAseq differential analysis, several genes were predicted to be involved in PET degradation, including aldehyde dehydrogenases and several classes of hydrolases. Active transcription of PET monomer metabolism was also observed, including the generation of polyhydroxyalkanoate (PHA)/polyhydroxybutyrate (PHB) biopolymers. These results present an exciting opportunity for the bio-recycling of mixed plastic waste with upcycling potential. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-10T03:43:52Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-d569dc30b51c445392b6d9c933a01ad5 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1661-6596 1422-0067 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-10T03:43:52Z |
| publishDate | 2022-05-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | International Journal of Molecular Sciences |
| spelling | doaj.art-d569dc30b51c445392b6d9c933a01ad52023-11-23T11:25:29ZengMDPI AGInternational Journal of Molecular Sciences1661-65961422-00672022-05-012310561210.3390/ijms23105612Microbial Consortia and Mixed Plastic Waste: Pangenomic Analysis Reveals Potential for Degradation of Multiple Plastic Types via Previously Identified PET Degrading BacteriaSabrina Edwards0Rosa León-Zayas1Riyaz Ditter2Helen Laster3Grace Sheehan4Oliver Anderson5Toby Beattie6Jay L. Mellies7Biology Department, Reed College, Portland, OR 97202, USABiology Department, Willamette University, Salem, OR 97301, USABiology Department, Reed College, Portland, OR 97202, USABiology Department, Reed College, Portland, OR 97202, USABiology Department, Willamette University, Salem, OR 97301, USABiology Department, Willamette University, Salem, OR 97301, USABiology Department, Reed College, Portland, OR 97202, USABiology Department, Reed College, Portland, OR 97202, USAThe global utilization of single-use, non-biodegradable plastics, such as bottles made of polyethylene terephthalate (PET), has contributed to catastrophic levels of plastic pollution. Fortunately, microbial communities are adapting to assimilate plastic waste. Previously, our work showed a full consortium of five bacteria capable of synergistically degrading PET. Using omics approaches, we identified the key genes implicated in PET degradation within the consortium’s pangenome and transcriptome. This analysis led to the discovery of a novel PETase, EstB, which has been observed to hydrolyze the oligomer BHET and the polymer PET. Besides the genes implicated in PET degradation, many other biodegradation genes were discovered. Over 200 plastic and plasticizer degradation-related genes were discovered through the Plastic Microbial Biodegradation Database (PMBD). Diverse carbon source utilization was observed by a microbial community-based assay, which, paired with an abundant number of plastic- and plasticizer-degrading enzymes, indicates a promising possibility for mixed plastic degradation. Using RNAseq differential analysis, several genes were predicted to be involved in PET degradation, including aldehyde dehydrogenases and several classes of hydrolases. Active transcription of PET monomer metabolism was also observed, including the generation of polyhydroxyalkanoate (PHA)/polyhydroxybutyrate (PHB) biopolymers. These results present an exciting opportunity for the bio-recycling of mixed plastic waste with upcycling potential.https://www.mdpi.com/1422-0067/23/10/5612biodegradationpoly(ethylene)terephthalate (PET)polyhydroxyalkanoate (PHA)plasticizersmixed plasticspangenomes |
| spellingShingle | Sabrina Edwards Rosa León-Zayas Riyaz Ditter Helen Laster Grace Sheehan Oliver Anderson Toby Beattie Jay L. Mellies Microbial Consortia and Mixed Plastic Waste: Pangenomic Analysis Reveals Potential for Degradation of Multiple Plastic Types via Previously Identified PET Degrading Bacteria International Journal of Molecular Sciences biodegradation poly(ethylene)terephthalate (PET) polyhydroxyalkanoate (PHA) plasticizers mixed plastics pangenomes |
| title | Microbial Consortia and Mixed Plastic Waste: Pangenomic Analysis Reveals Potential for Degradation of Multiple Plastic Types via Previously Identified PET Degrading Bacteria |
| title_full | Microbial Consortia and Mixed Plastic Waste: Pangenomic Analysis Reveals Potential for Degradation of Multiple Plastic Types via Previously Identified PET Degrading Bacteria |
| title_fullStr | Microbial Consortia and Mixed Plastic Waste: Pangenomic Analysis Reveals Potential for Degradation of Multiple Plastic Types via Previously Identified PET Degrading Bacteria |
| title_full_unstemmed | Microbial Consortia and Mixed Plastic Waste: Pangenomic Analysis Reveals Potential for Degradation of Multiple Plastic Types via Previously Identified PET Degrading Bacteria |
| title_short | Microbial Consortia and Mixed Plastic Waste: Pangenomic Analysis Reveals Potential for Degradation of Multiple Plastic Types via Previously Identified PET Degrading Bacteria |
| title_sort | microbial consortia and mixed plastic waste pangenomic analysis reveals potential for degradation of multiple plastic types via previously identified pet degrading bacteria |
| topic | biodegradation poly(ethylene)terephthalate (PET) polyhydroxyalkanoate (PHA) plasticizers mixed plastics pangenomes |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/1422-0067/23/10/5612 |
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