Molecule of the Month: Plastic-eating Enzymes

7 February 2023

Photo: pdb101.rcsb.org

PETase enzyme degrades polyester plastic (PET) into monohydroxyethyl terephthalate (MHET). Then, MHETase enzyme degrades MHET into its constituents ethylene glycol (EG) and terephthalic acid (TPA).

The global protein database RCSB PDB-101 refers for its Molecule of the Month to our publication Microbial enzymes will offer limited solutions to the global plastic pollution crisis. What can these outstanding enzymes do? Together, they break down polyethylene terephthalate (PET). The PETase enzyme clips the highly stable plastic polymer into manageable monohydroxyethyl terephthalate (MHET). The MHETase enzyme finishes the process by clipping the pieces into individual constituents. Other enzymes in the bacteria can then use these constituents as nutrients. With this discovery, we have come a long way toward recycling and degrading plastics naturally.

Read more about the Molecule of the Month award here.