IIT Roorkee experts identify pollutant degrading enzymes that break down plastic faster

IIT Roorkee experts have identified pollutant degrading enzymes that break down plastic faster with help of this method.

Researchers at the Indian Institute of Technology Roorkee, discovered a 3D structure of a bacterial enzyme that can aid the faster breakdown of the plastic. The research was spearheaded by Prof. Pravindra Kumar with five associates at the Department of Biosciences and Bioengineering at IIT Roorkee.

The team identified all the enzymes responsible for phthalate and terephthalate degradation in Comamonas testosteroni KF1, a type of microbe, that would help in faster degradation of plastics and plasticisers, which are considered non-biodegradable.

Appraising about the research results, Prof. Pravindra Kumar, Department of Biosciences and Bioengineering at IIT Roorkee, highlights, "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. Therefore, building on this, the team members have determined the crystal structure of TPDO from Comamonas testosteroni KF1 and revealed that this enzyme can help degrade non-biodegradables".

Phthalate, a substance that hinders the endocrine system in living beings and a potential carcinogen, found in plastics is degraded by a variety of bacteria.

This degradation is initiated by phthalate dioxygenase (PDO), a Rieske oxygenase (RO) that catalyzes the dihydroxylation reaction.