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Engineering microbial division of labor for plastic upcycling

Author

Listed:
  • Teng Bao

    (University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
    University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign)

  • Yuanchao Qian

    (University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
    University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign)

  • Yongping Xin

    (University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
    University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign)

  • James J. Collins

    (Massachusetts Institute of Technology
    Harvard University
    Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard)

  • Ting Lu

    (University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
    University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
    University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
    University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign)

Abstract

Plastic pollution is rapidly increasing worldwide, causing adverse impacts on the environment, wildlife and human health. One tempting solution to this crisis is upcycling plastics into products with engineered microorganisms; however, this remains challenging due to complexity in conversion. Here we present a synthetic microbial consortium that efficiently degrades polyethylene terephthalate hydrolysate and subsequently produces desired chemicals through division of labor. The consortium involves two Pseudomonas putida strains, specializing in terephthalic acid and ethylene glycol utilization respectively, to achieve complete substrate assimilation. Compared with its monoculture counterpart, the consortium exhibits reduced catabolic crosstalk and faster deconstruction, particularly when substrate concentrations are high or crude hydrolysate is used. It also outperforms monoculture when polyhydroxyalkanoates serves as a target product and confers flexible tuning through population modulation for cis-cis muconate synthesis. This work demonstrates engineered consortia as a promising, effective platform that may facilitate polymer upcycling and environmental sustainability.

Suggested Citation

  • Teng Bao & Yuanchao Qian & Yongping Xin & James J. Collins & Ting Lu, 2023. "Engineering microbial division of labor for plastic upcycling," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 14(1), pages 1-13, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:natcom:v:14:y:2023:i:1:d:10.1038_s41467-023-40777-x
    DOI: 10.1038/s41467-023-40777-x
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Zhen Yu & Yang Li & Yaoxin Zhang & Ping Xu & Chade Lv & Wulong Li & Bushra Maryam & Xianhua Liu & Swee Ching Tan, 2024. "Microplastic detection and remediation through efficient interfacial solar evaporation for immaculate water production," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 15(1), pages 1-10, December.
    2. Jonghyeok Shin & Siqi Liao & Nurzhan Kuanyshev & Yongping Xin & Chanwoo Kim & Ting Lu & Yong-Su Jin, 2024. "Compositional and temporal division of labor modulates mixed sugar fermentation by an engineered yeast consortium," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 15(1), pages 1-12, December.

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