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Synergistic biodegradation of aromatic-aliphatic copolyester plastic by a marine microbial consortium

Author

Listed:
  • Ingrid E. Meyer-Cifuentes

    (Leibniz Institute DSMZ-German Collection of Microorganisms and Cell Cultures)

  • Johannes Werner

    (Leibniz Institute of Baltic Sea Research)

  • Nico Jehmlich

    (Helmholtz-Centre for Environmental Research-UFZ)

  • Sabine E. Will

    (Leibniz Institute DSMZ-German Collection of Microorganisms and Cell Cultures)

  • Meina Neumann-Schaal

    (Leibniz Institute DSMZ-German Collection of Microorganisms and Cell Cultures)

  • Başak Öztürk

    (Leibniz Institute DSMZ-German Collection of Microorganisms and Cell Cultures)

Abstract

The degradation of synthetic polymers by marine microorganisms is not as well understood as the degradation of plastics in soil and compost. Here, we use metagenomics, metatranscriptomics and metaproteomics to study the biodegradation of an aromatic-aliphatic copolyester blend by a marine microbial enrichment culture. The culture can use the plastic film as the sole carbon source, reaching maximum conversion to CO2 and biomass in around 15 days. The consortium degrades the polymer synergistically, with different degradation steps being performed by different community members. We identify six putative PETase-like enzymes and four putative MHETase-like enzymes, with the potential to degrade aliphatic-aromatic polymers and their degradation products, respectively. Our results show that, although there are multiple genes and organisms with the potential to perform each degradation step, only a few are active during biodegradation.

Suggested Citation

  • Ingrid E. Meyer-Cifuentes & Johannes Werner & Nico Jehmlich & Sabine E. Will & Meina Neumann-Schaal & Başak Öztürk, 2020. "Synergistic biodegradation of aromatic-aliphatic copolyester plastic by a marine microbial consortium," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 11(1), pages 1-13, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:natcom:v:11:y:2020:i:1:d:10.1038_s41467-020-19583-2
    DOI: 10.1038/s41467-020-19583-2
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    Cited by:

    1. Chen, Ning & Li, Xianyue & Shi, Haibin & Zhang, Yuehong & Hu, Qi & Sun, Ya’nan, 2023. "Modeling effects of biodegradable film mulching on evapotranspiration and crop yields in Inner Mongolia," Agricultural Water Management, Elsevier, vol. 275(C).
    2. Eleanor A. Sheridan & Jérémy A. Fonvielle & Samuel Cottingham & Yi Zhang & Thorsten Dittmar & David C. Aldridge & Andrew J. Tanentzap, 2022. "Plastic pollution fosters more microbial growth in lakes than natural organic matter," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 13(1), pages 1-9, December.
    3. Zhiwen Gao & Bing Ma & Shuang Chen & Jingqing Tian & Chen Zhao, 2022. "Converting waste PET plastics into automobile fuels and antifreeze components," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 13(1), pages 1-9, December.

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