The Degradative Capabilities of New <i>Amycolatopsis</i> Isolates on Polylactic Acid
Polylactic acid (PLA), a bioplastic synthesized from lactic acid, has a broad range of applications owing to its excellent proprieties such as a high melting point, good mechanical strength, transparency, and ease of fabrication. However, the safe disposal of PLA is an emerging environmental problem...
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| Format: | Article |
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MDPI AG
2019-11-01
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| Series: | Microorganisms |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2607/7/12/590 |
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| author | Francesca Decorosi Maria Luna Exana Francesco Pini Alessandra Adessi Anna Messini Luciana Giovannetti Carlo Viti |
| author_facet | Francesca Decorosi Maria Luna Exana Francesco Pini Alessandra Adessi Anna Messini Luciana Giovannetti Carlo Viti |
| author_sort | Francesca Decorosi |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Polylactic acid (PLA), a bioplastic synthesized from lactic acid, has a broad range of applications owing to its excellent proprieties such as a high melting point, good mechanical strength, transparency, and ease of fabrication. However, the safe disposal of PLA is an emerging environmental problem: it resists microbial attack in environmental conditions, and the frequency of PLA-degrading microorganisms in soil is very low. To date, a limited number of PLA-degrading bacteria have been isolated, and most are actinomycetes. In this work, a method for the selection of rare actinomycetes with extracellular proteolytic activity was established, and the technique was used to isolate four mesophilic actinomycetes with the ability to degrade emulsified PLA in agar plates. All four strains—designated SO1.1, SO1.2, SNC, and SST—belong to the genus <i>Amycolatopsis</i>. The PLA-degrading capability of the four strains was investigated by testing their ability to assimilate lactic acid, fragment PLA polymers, and deteriorate PLA films. The strain SNC was the best PLA degrader—it was able to assimilate lactic acid, constitutively cleave PLA, and form a thick and widespread biofilm on PLA film. The activity of this strain extensively eroded the polymer, leading to a weight loss of 36% in one month in mesophilic conditions. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-11T05:04:12Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-d663397014e84a3a9266501d986f3e40 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2076-2607 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-11T05:04:12Z |
| publishDate | 2019-11-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Microorganisms |
| spelling | doaj.art-d663397014e84a3a9266501d986f3e402022-12-22T01:20:05ZengMDPI AGMicroorganisms2076-26072019-11-0171259010.3390/microorganisms7120590microorganisms7120590The Degradative Capabilities of New <i>Amycolatopsis</i> Isolates on Polylactic AcidFrancesca Decorosi0Maria Luna Exana1Francesco Pini2Alessandra Adessi3Anna Messini4Luciana Giovannetti5Carlo Viti6Department of Agriculture, Food, Environment and Forestry (DAGRI)—University of Florence, Piazzale delle Cascine 18, I50144 Florence, ItalyDepartment of Agriculture, Food, Environment and Forestry (DAGRI)—University of Florence, Piazzale delle Cascine 18, I50144 Florence, ItalyDepartment of Agriculture, Food, Environment and Forestry (DAGRI)—University of Florence, Piazzale delle Cascine 18, I50144 Florence, ItalyDepartment of Agriculture, Food, Environment and Forestry (DAGRI)—University of Florence, Piazzale delle Cascine 18, I50144 Florence, ItalyDepartment of Agriculture, Food, Environment and Forestry (DAGRI)—University of Florence, Piazzale delle Cascine 18, I50144 Florence, ItalyDepartment of Agriculture, Food, Environment and Forestry (DAGRI)—University of Florence, Piazzale delle Cascine 18, I50144 Florence, ItalyDepartment of Agriculture, Food, Environment and Forestry (DAGRI)—University of Florence, Piazzale delle Cascine 18, I50144 Florence, ItalyPolylactic acid (PLA), a bioplastic synthesized from lactic acid, has a broad range of applications owing to its excellent proprieties such as a high melting point, good mechanical strength, transparency, and ease of fabrication. However, the safe disposal of PLA is an emerging environmental problem: it resists microbial attack in environmental conditions, and the frequency of PLA-degrading microorganisms in soil is very low. To date, a limited number of PLA-degrading bacteria have been isolated, and most are actinomycetes. In this work, a method for the selection of rare actinomycetes with extracellular proteolytic activity was established, and the technique was used to isolate four mesophilic actinomycetes with the ability to degrade emulsified PLA in agar plates. All four strains—designated SO1.1, SO1.2, SNC, and SST—belong to the genus <i>Amycolatopsis</i>. The PLA-degrading capability of the four strains was investigated by testing their ability to assimilate lactic acid, fragment PLA polymers, and deteriorate PLA films. The strain SNC was the best PLA degrader—it was able to assimilate lactic acid, constitutively cleave PLA, and form a thick and widespread biofilm on PLA film. The activity of this strain extensively eroded the polymer, leading to a weight loss of 36% in one month in mesophilic conditions.https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2607/7/12/590polylactic acidpolylactide<i>amycolatopsis</i>biodegradation |
| spellingShingle | Francesca Decorosi Maria Luna Exana Francesco Pini Alessandra Adessi Anna Messini Luciana Giovannetti Carlo Viti The Degradative Capabilities of New <i>Amycolatopsis</i> Isolates on Polylactic Acid Microorganisms polylactic acid polylactide <i>amycolatopsis</i> biodegradation |
| title | The Degradative Capabilities of New <i>Amycolatopsis</i> Isolates on Polylactic Acid |
| title_full | The Degradative Capabilities of New <i>Amycolatopsis</i> Isolates on Polylactic Acid |
| title_fullStr | The Degradative Capabilities of New <i>Amycolatopsis</i> Isolates on Polylactic Acid |
| title_full_unstemmed | The Degradative Capabilities of New <i>Amycolatopsis</i> Isolates on Polylactic Acid |
| title_short | The Degradative Capabilities of New <i>Amycolatopsis</i> Isolates on Polylactic Acid |
| title_sort | degradative capabilities of new i amycolatopsis i isolates on polylactic acid |
| topic | polylactic acid polylactide <i>amycolatopsis</i> biodegradation |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2607/7/12/590 |
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