Insights Into the Metabolism of Plastic-Eating Bacteria

Plastic-eating bacteria could help to curb the global waste problem in the future. But many questions remain unanswered. Researchers at Forschungszentrum Jülich and Heinrich Heine University Düsseldorf have now shown for the first time how bacteria of the genus Halopseudomonas break down common plastic coatings made of polyester urethane. The metabolic pathways and enzymes described underline the relevance of the newly isolated bacterium for the biodegradation of plastics and pave the way for its application.

From left to right: Jan de Witt (Wierckx working group, IBG-1, Forschungszentrum Jülich), Rebecka Molitor and Luzie Kruse (Jaeger working group, IMET, HHU Düsseldorf). Copyright: HHU Düsseldorf / IMET

This work arose from a fruitful collaboration between the HHU Institute of Molecular Enzyme Technology IMET led by Jaeger and the research group "Microbial Catalysis" led by Wierckx at the Jülich Institute of Bio- and Geosciences IBG-1.

The work in the Wierckx group was funded by the EU Horizon 2020 project Glaukos, the work in the Jaeger group by the BMBF projects No-Stress and PlastiSea. The plastic coatings were provided by industry partners I-Coats and Covestro. The close collaboration between the IBG-1 and IMET teams with industry partners thus paves the way for potential applications in biotechnology and bioremediation.

The complete press release can be viewed HERE.