Cellular Upcycling of Polyethylene Terephthalate (PET) With an Engineered Human Saliva Metagenomic PET Hydrolase.

ABSTRACT: Recent advances in biocatalytic recycling of polyethylene terephthalate (PET) using PET hydrolase enzymes have sparked interest in integrating PET degradation capabilities into living systems. Although cell-based strategies are limited by the mesophilic temperature constraints of microbial hosts, they offer a unique opportunity to couple PET depolymerization with biological upcycling into value-added chemicals. Here, a comprehensive approach for the cellular degradation and valorization of PET is reported. The crystal structure of MG8, a PET hydrolase identified from the human saliva metagenome is solved, and molecular dynamics simulations are used to pinpoint loop regions for targeted mutagenesis aimed at enhancing activity under moderate temperatures. Over 1000 MG8 loop variants are eval

SUBMITTER: Amornloetwattana R 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12767563 | biostudies-literature | 2026 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature