The programmed sequence-based oxygenase screening for polypropylene degradation

Qianlong Tan; Wentao Chen; Hong Liu; Wende Yan; Xiu Huang; Yong Li

doi:10.1016/j.jhazmat.2023.133173

The programmed sequence-based oxygenase screening for polypropylene degradation

J Hazard Mater. 2024 Mar 5:465:133173. doi: 10.1016/j.jhazmat.2023.133173. Epub 2023 Dec 6.

Authors

Qianlong Tan¹, Wentao Chen¹, Hong Liu¹, Wende Yan², Xiu Huang³, Yong Li⁴

Affiliations

¹ Life and Science Department, Central South University of Forestry and Technology, Changsha, Hunan 410004, China; National Engineering Laboratory for Applied Technology of Forestry & Ecology in South China, Changsha, Hunan 410004, China.
² Life and Science Department, Central South University of Forestry and Technology, Changsha, Hunan 410004, China; National Engineering Laboratory for Applied Technology of Forestry & Ecology in South China, Changsha, Hunan 410004, China; Laboratory of Urban Forest Ecology of Hunan Province, Changsha, Hunan 410004, China.
³ West China School of Public Health and West China Fourth Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, China.
⁴ Life and Science Department, Central South University of Forestry and Technology, Changsha, Hunan 410004, China; National Engineering Laboratory for Applied Technology of Forestry & Ecology in South China, Changsha, Hunan 410004, China; Laboratory of Urban Forest Ecology of Hunan Province, Changsha, Hunan 410004, China. Electronic address: liyong_0606@126.com.

PMID: 38061126
DOI: 10.1016/j.jhazmat.2023.133173

Abstract

Enzymatic degradation of plastic is an effective means of plastic recycling and pollution control. However, the strong chemical inertness of polypropylene plastic (PP) severely impedes its oxidative cleavage, making it resistant to degradation. In this study, based on sequence screening of Hidden Markov Model (HMM), a dioxygenase (HIS1) was identified and characterized to be effective in PP oxidation. Various kinds of PP products, including plastic films, microplastics, and disposable water cups or bags, were HIS1-degraded with cracks and holes on the surface. The hydrophobic binding was the primary force driving oxidative degradation in the specific cavity of HIS1. The discovery of HIS1 achieved a zero breakthrough in PP biodegradation, providing a promising candidate for the selection and evolution of degrading enzymes.

Keywords: Enzyme degradable plastics; Microplastic; Molecular dynamics; Polypropylene.

MeSH terms

Biodegradation, Environmental
Microplastics
Oxygenases
Plastics / metabolism
Polypropylenes* / chemistry
Water Pollutants, Chemical* / analysis

Substances

Polypropylenes
Plastics
Oxygenases
Microplastics
Water Pollutants, Chemical