IIT Roorkee identifies enzymes that break down plastic faster

The research team discovered enzymes responsible for the degradation of phthalate and terephthalate, chemicals used in plastic production. These enzymes were found in a microorganism called Comamonas testosteroni KF1. 

A research team at the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Roorkee has discovered a bacterial enzyme that can help in the faster degradation of plastic materials that are considered non-biodegradable. The research team was led by Pravindra Kumar, department of biosciences and bioengineering, IIT Roorkee. 

IIT Roorkee in a statement said the research team discovered the enzymes responsible for the degradation of phthalate and terephthalate, chemicals used in plastic production. These enzymes were found in a microorganism called Comamonas testosteroni KF1.  

“The global plastic pollution has become the most pressing environmental issue. And recent studies on enzymes degrading polyethylene terephthalate type of plastics into terephthalate (TPA) show some potential in tackling this. Also, research from the last decade has discovered terephthalate dioxygenase (TPDO), as being responsible for initiating the enzymatic degradation of TPA in a few Gram-negative and Gram-positive bacteria. The team members have determined the crystal structure of TPDO from Comamonas testosteroni KF1 and revealed that this enzyme can help degrade non-biodegradables," said Kumar. 

"Toxic phthalates are detrimental to the environment. These results provide insights into a pollutant-degrading enzyme. The results facilitate the engineering of this enzyme for bioremediation and biocatalytic applications," said Ajit K Chaturvedi, Director of IIT Roorkee. The study is published in ‘the Journal of Biological Chemistry’ and ‘the Journal of Bacteriology’. 

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