Preprint Article Version 1 Preserved in Portico This version is not peer-reviewed

Microbial Consortia and Mixed Plastic Waste: Pangenomic Analysis Reveals Potential for Degradation of Multiple Plastic Types via Previously Identified PET Degrading Bacteria

Sabrina Edwards
ORCID logo ,
Rosa Leon-Zayas
,
Riyaz Ditter
ORCID logo ,
Helen Laster
ORCID logo ,
Grace Sheehan
,
Oliver Anderson
,
Toby Beattie
,
Jay L Mellies
* ORCID logo
Version 1 : Received: 28 April 2022 / Approved: 30 April 2022 / Online: 30 April 2022 (04:22:11 CEST)

A peer-reviewed article of this Preprint also exists.

Edwards, S.; León-Zayas, R.; Ditter, R.; Laster, H.; Sheehan, G.; Anderson, O.; Beattie, T.; Mellies, J.L. Microbial Consortia and Mixed Plastic Waste: Pangenomic Analysis Reveals Potential for Degradation of Multiple Plastic Types via Previously Identified PET Degrading Bacteria. Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2022, 23, 5612. Edwards, S.; León-Zayas, R.; Ditter, R.; Laster, H.; Sheehan, G.; Anderson, O.; Beattie, T.; Mellies, J.L. Microbial Consortia and Mixed Plastic Waste: Pangenomic Analysis Reveals Potential for Degradation of Multiple Plastic Types via Previously Identified PET Degrading Bacteria. Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2022, 23, 5612.

Abstract

Global use of single-use non-biodegradable plastics, like bottles made of polyethylene tereph-thalate (PET), have contributed to catastrophic levels of plastic pollution. Fortunately, microbi-al communities are adapting to assimilate plastic waste. Previously, our work showed a full consortium of five bacteria capable of synergistically degrading PET. Using omics approaches we identified key genes implicated in PET degradation within the consortium’s pangenome and transcriptome. This analysis led to the discovery of a novel PETase, EstB, discovered to hydrolyze oligomer BHET, and polymer PET. Besides genes implicated in PET degradation, many other biodegradation genes were discovered. Over 200 plastic and plasticizer degrada-tion related genes were discovered through the Plastic Microbial Biodegradation Database (PMBD). Diverse carbon source utilization was observed by a microbial community-based as-say, which paired with an abundant number of plastic and plasticizer degrading enzymes in-dicates a promising possibility for mixed plastic degradation. Using RNAseq differential analysis, several genes were predicted to be involved in PET degradation including aldehyde dehydrogenases and several classes of hydrolases. Active transcription of PET monomer me-tabolism was also observed, including the generation of polyhydroxyalkanoate (PHA) bi-opolymers. These results present an exciting opportunity for the bio-recycling of mixed plastic waste with upcycling potential.

Keywords

biodegradation; poly(ethylene)terephthalate (PET); low-density polyethylene (LDPE); plasticizers; mixed-plastics; pangenomes

Subject

Biology and Life Sciences, Immunology and Microbiology

Copyright: This is an open access article distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution License which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.

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