Project description:Although the biodegradation of biodegradable plastics in soil and compost is well-studied, there is little knowledge on the metabolic mechanisms of synthetic polymers degradation by marine microorganisms. Here, we present a multiomics study to elucidate the biodegradation mechanism of a commercial aromatic-aliphatic copolyester film by a marine microbial enrichment culture. The plastic film and each monomer can be used as sole carbon source. Our analysis showed that the consortium synergistically degrades the polymer, different degradation steps being performed by different members of the community. Analysis of gene expression and translation profiles revealed that the relevant degradation processes in the marine consortium are closely related to poly(ethylene terephthalate) biodegradation from terrestrial microbes. Although there are multiple genes and organisms with the potential to perform a degradation step, only a few of these are active during biodegradation. Our results elucidate the potential of marine microorganisms to mineralize biodegradable plastic polymers and describe the mechanisms of labor division within the community to get maximum energetic yield from a complex synthetic substrate.
Project description:The study aimed to explore the potential of bacterial biodegradation as a solution to the global problem of plastic pollution, specifically targeting polyethylene (PE), one of the most common types of plastic. The goals of the study were to isolate a bacterial strain capable of breaking down PE, identify the key enzymes responsible for the degradation process, and understand the metabolic pathways involved.
Project description:The study aimed to explore the potential of bacterial biodegradation as a solution to the global problem of plastic pollution, specifically targeting polyethylene (PE), one of the most common types of plastic. The goals of the study were to isolate a bacterial strain capable of breaking down PE, identify the key enzymes responsible for the degradation process, and understand the metabolic pathways involved. By investigating these aspects, researchers sought to gain critical insights that could be used to optimize plastic degradation conditions and inform the development of artificial microbial communities for effective bioremediation strategies. This research has significant relevance, as it addresses the pressing need for innovative and sustainable approaches to tackle the ever-growing issue of plastic waste and its impact on the environment.
2024-01-02 | PXD041981 | Pride
Project description:Landfill leachate microbiomes during anaerobic plastic biodegradation
Project description:Plastics are highly stable materials with widespread applications, but their resistance to degradation poses a significant environmental challenge, often resulting in accumulation in landfills or pollution in the form of microplastics. Biodegradation using insect larvae has recently emerged as a promising strategy to address this issue, though the molecular basis of plastic degradation in these organisms remains poorly understood due to limited genomic resources. In this study, we present a complete genome of the lesser wax moth, Achroia grisella, and tissue-specific RNA-Seq data of both the lesser and the greater wax moth, Galleria mellonella, two species known to consume various plastics. Our analyses reveal several highly expressed secretory enzymes in gut and labial tissues. Orthologous comparisons of differentially expressed genes also identified five enzymes (three hexamerins and two monooxygenases) from the lesser wax moth that have been shown or are predicted to have plastic-degrading potential in the greater wax moth. We also identified enzymes that may potentially be involved in polyethylene and polystyrene degradation based on their identities with known bacterial enzymes that have been experimentally validated and are involved in plastic degradation pathways. Together, these genomic and transcriptomic resources provide a foundation for understanding plastic degradation in wax moths and highlight candidate genes for future functional validation.
Project description:Plastics are highly stable materials with widespread applications, but their resistance to degradation poses a significant environmental challenge, often resulting in accumulation in landfills or pollution in the form of microplastics. Biodegradation using insect larvae has recently emerged as a promising strategy to address this issue, though the molecular basis of plastic degradation in these organisms remains poorly understood due to limited genomic resources. In this study, we present a complete genome of the lesser wax moth, Achroia grisella, and tissue-specific RNA-Seq data of both the lesser and the greater wax moth, Galleria mellonella, two species known to consume various plastics. Our analyses reveal several highly expressed secretory enzymes in gut and labial tissues. Orthologous comparisons of differentially expressed genes also identified five enzymes (three hexamerins and two monooxygenases) from the lesser wax moth that have been shown or are predicted to have plastic-degrading potential in the greater wax moth. We also identified enzymes that may potentially be involved in polyethylene and polystyrene degradation based on their identities with known bacterial enzymes that have been experimentally validated and are involved in plastic degradation pathways. Together, these genomic and transcriptomic resources provide a foundation for understanding plastic degradation in wax moths and highlight candidate genes for future functional validation.
Project description:This project investigates the biodegradative molecular signatures (proteins and metabolites) expressed by Lasiodiplodia iraniensis (K3) and Lasiodiplodia theobromae (K5) when exposed to plastic polymers. Specifically, L. iraniensis was exposed to Polyurethane (PU) and Polyethylene (PE) plastics, while L. theobromae was exposed only to Polyurethane plastic particles. The control treatments for both species involved glucose as a carbon source. The study compares the proteomic and metabolomic profiles of both species to identify potential biomarkers and insights into their biodegradation capabilities. Additionally, a comparison of expression profiles between Polyurethane and Polyethylene plastics was performed for L. iraniensis to assess differential responses to the two distinct plastics.
Project description:Polylactic acid (PLA) is a promising biodegradable material used in various fields, such as mulching films and disposable packaging materials. Biological approaches for completely degrading biodegradable polymers can provide environmentally friendly solutions. However, to our knowledge, no studies have performed transcriptome profiling to analyze PLA-degrading genes of PLA-degrading bacteria. Therefore, this study reports for the first time an RNA sequence approach for tracing genes involved in PLA biodegradation in the PLA-degrading bacterium Brevibacillus brevis. In the interpretation results of the differentially expressed genes, the hydrolase genes mhqD and nap and the serine protease gene besA were up-regulated by a fold change of 7.97, 4.89, and 4.09, respectively. This result suggests that hydrolases play a key role in PLA biodegradation by B. brevis. In addition, Gene Ontology and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes analyses showed that genes implicated in biofilm formation were upregulated. The biodegradation of PLA starts with bacteria attaching to the surface of PLA and forming a biofilm. Therefore, it could be confirmed that the above genes were up-regulated for access to PLA and biodegradation. Our results provide transcriptome-based insights into PLA biodegradation, which pitch a better understanding of microbial biodegradation of plastics.
2025-01-16 | GSE223668 | GEO
Project description:Oxic and anoxic plastic biodegradation potentials in sediments from Pearl River Estuary