Presentation Type
Poster
Full Name of Faculty Mentor
Michelle Barthet, Biology
Major
Biology
Presentation Abstract
In 2016, a bacteria found outside a recycling facility in Japan was discovered to decompose and metabolize polyethylene terephthalate (PET). Ideonella sakaiensis exhibited catabolic activity by binding to the surface of the products and delivering PETase enzymes to degrade plastic into its original structural components. PET is a clear plastic designed for single-use packaging. Despite the claim that PET plastics are 100% recyclable, only 31% of PETs are recycled. PETs do not decompose for up to 450 years in disposal facilities, resulting in the clogging of natural landscapes with litter and phthalate toxins. It is suggested that the selective pressure of microplastics in the environment guided evolution of these enzymes from hydrolyzation of cutin to degradation of plastics. Most work conducted around this enzyme consists of improving the degradation rate via surfactant addition and genetic manipulation. Outside of genetic manipulation, there is a lack of literature on the evolutionary phylogeny and complete sequencing of the enzyme. This research aims to identify the PETase sequence and compare enzyme structures to determine how PETase activity varies in different fungal endophytes of plant species. Anticipated outcomes of this research project are: to synthesize a phylogenetic tree of PETase, determine the relationship between endophytic PETase activity and marine plants with endophytic microbiomes, and isolation of local plant DNA to observe the presence of natural PETase. Exploiting the lineage between fungi, endophytes, and marine plants with endophytic microbiomes could determine if natural PETase is the solution for microplastic degradation in our local wetlands.
Start Date
11-4-2023 10:00 AM
End Date
11-4-2023 12:00 PM
Disciplines
Biology
Recommended Citation
Mazariego, Marissa, "Evolutionary Analysis of Plastic-Degrading Enzyme PETase Found in the Endophytic Microbiome of Marine Viridiplantae for Phytoremediation" (2023). Undergraduate Research Competition. 30.
https://digitalcommons.coastal.edu/ugrc/2023/fullconference/30
Included in
Evolutionary Analysis of Plastic-Degrading Enzyme PETase Found in the Endophytic Microbiome of Marine Viridiplantae for Phytoremediation
In 2016, a bacteria found outside a recycling facility in Japan was discovered to decompose and metabolize polyethylene terephthalate (PET). Ideonella sakaiensis exhibited catabolic activity by binding to the surface of the products and delivering PETase enzymes to degrade plastic into its original structural components. PET is a clear plastic designed for single-use packaging. Despite the claim that PET plastics are 100% recyclable, only 31% of PETs are recycled. PETs do not decompose for up to 450 years in disposal facilities, resulting in the clogging of natural landscapes with litter and phthalate toxins. It is suggested that the selective pressure of microplastics in the environment guided evolution of these enzymes from hydrolyzation of cutin to degradation of plastics. Most work conducted around this enzyme consists of improving the degradation rate via surfactant addition and genetic manipulation. Outside of genetic manipulation, there is a lack of literature on the evolutionary phylogeny and complete sequencing of the enzyme. This research aims to identify the PETase sequence and compare enzyme structures to determine how PETase activity varies in different fungal endophytes of plant species. Anticipated outcomes of this research project are: to synthesize a phylogenetic tree of PETase, determine the relationship between endophytic PETase activity and marine plants with endophytic microbiomes, and isolation of local plant DNA to observe the presence of natural PETase. Exploiting the lineage between fungi, endophytes, and marine plants with endophytic microbiomes could determine if natural PETase is the solution for microplastic degradation in our local wetlands.