Pac-Man enzyme effectively degrades bioplastics in soil within a year
A team at the University of Konstanz discovered a bacterial enzyme, dubbed the "Pac-Man enzyme," that can degrade specific bioplastics in soil within 250-330 days. This finding could enhance bioplastic development and pollution reduction efforts.
Researchers at the University of Konstanz have identified a bacterial enzyme, nicknamed the "Pac-Man enzyme" because of its wide active site, that effectively breaks down certain polyester bioplastics and high-density polyethylene variants found in forest soil. This enzyme can completely degrade these materials within 250 to 330 days, as confirmed by both laboratory and field experiments. This discovery is important in the ongoing battle against plastic pollution, which poses a significant threat to the environment and marine life. Traditional plastics are notoriously slow to decompose, leading to the accumulation of harmful microplastics in ecosystems. The Pac-Man enzyme offers a potential solution to enhance the natural degradation processes of plastics in the environment.
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