Abstract
Polyethylene terephthalate (PET) is a widely used plastic that is polymerized by terephthalic acid (TPA) and ethylene glycol (EG). In recent years, PET biodegradation and bioconversion have become important in solving environmental plastic pollution. More and more PET hydrolases have been discovered and modified, which mainly act on and degrade the ester bond of PET. The monomers, TPA and EG, can be further utilized by microorganisms, entering the tricarboxylic acid cycle (TCA cycle) or being converted into high value chemicals, and finally realizing the biodegradation and bioconversion of PET. Based on synthetic biology and metabolic engineering strategies, this review summarizes the current advances in the modified PET hydrolases, engineered microbial chassis in degrading PET, bioconversion pathways of PET monomers, and artificial microbial consortia in PET biodegradation and bioconversion. Artificial microbial consortium provides novel ideas for the biodegradation and bioconversion of PET or other complex polymers. It is helpful to realize the one-step bioconversion of PET into high value chemicals.
Highlights
Polyethylene terephthalate (PET) is one of the most widely used synthetic plastics in people’s lives [1]
Some microorganisms have been engineered to produce high value chemicals from PET monomers, which is an important development direction for PET upcycling. Based on these current advances, developing enhanced microbial chassis and constructing artificial microbial consortia to couple the biodegradation of PET by secreted PET hydrolases with the bioconversion of high value chemicals from monomers is a promising method to realize the circular economy of PET waste
This review summarizes the current advances in the modified PET hydrolases, engineered microbial chassis in degrading PET, bioconversion pathways of PET monomers, and artificial microbial consortia in PET biodegradation, providing novel ideas for the future degradation of PET, and other types of polymers, by artificial microbial consortia
Summary
Polyethylene terephthalate (PET) is one of the most widely used synthetic plastics in people’s lives [1]. Synthetic biology and metabolic engineering strategies have been applied to the biodegradation and bioconversion of PET waste, especially in the modification of PET hydrolases, optimization of microbial chassis, and reconstruction of degradation pathways. Some microorganisms have been engineered to produce high value chemicals from PET monomers, which is an important development direction for PET upcycling. Based on these current advances, developing enhanced microbial chassis and constructing artificial microbial consortia to couple the biodegradation of PET by secreted PET hydrolases with the bioconversion of high value chemicals from monomers is a promising method to realize the circular economy of PET waste. This review summarizes the current advances in the modified PET hydrolases, engineered microbial chassis in degrading PET, bioconversion pathways of PET monomers, and artificial microbial consortia in PET biodegradation, providing novel ideas for the future degradation of PET, and other types of polymers, by artificial microbial consortia
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