Open AccessBiochemical and structural characterization of an aromatic ring–hydroxylating dioxygenase for terephthalic acid catabolism
Author(s) -
William M. Kincan,
Michael Zahn,
Rita Clare,
Jessica Lusty Beech,
Ari Romberg,
Jim Larson,
Brian Bothner,
Gregg T. Beckham,
J.E. McGeehan,
Jennifer L. DuBois
Publication year - 2022
Publication title -
proceedings of the national academy of sciences of the united states of america
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 5.011
H-Index - 771
eISSN - 1091-6490
pISSN - 0027-8424
DOI - 10.1073/pnas.2121426119
Subject(s) - bioconversion , dioxygenase , terephthalic acid , polyester , ethylene , chemistry , substrate (aquarium) , biodegradation , adipate , mineralization (soil science) , xenobiotic , enzyme , biochemistry , organic chemistry , fermentation , biology , polymer chemistry , catalysis , ecology , nitrogen
Significance More than 400 million tons of plastic waste is produced each year, the overwhelming majority of which ends up in landfills. Bioconversion strategies aimed at plastics have emerged as important components of enabling a circular economy for synthetic plastics, especially those that exhibit chemically similar linkages to those found in nature, such as polyesters. The enzyme system described in this work is essential for mineralization of the xenobiotic components of poly(ethylene terephthalate) (PET) in the biosphere. Our description of its structure and substrate preferences lays the groundwork for in vivo or ex vivo engineering of this system for PET upcycling.