Researchers at The Australian National University (ANU) have made significant strides in addressing plastic pollution by enhancing a plastic-degrading enzyme known as PETase. By swapping a single atom in the enzyme—a conventional amino acid (tryptophan) was replaced with a synthetic variant (azatryptophan)—the enzyme’s ability to break down polyethylene terephthalate (PET) was nearly doubled without losing heat resilience.
This breakthrough overcomes previous limitations where increasing degradation speed often compromised enzyme stability. The study introduces a novel fluorescent assay named PETra to expedite testing, allowing for quicker evaluations of enzyme variants.
With over 350 million tons of PET plastic waste produced annually, this advancement holds potential not only for recycling but also for broader applications in green manufacturing and medical therapies, ultimately pointing towards innovative solutions for the global plastic crisis.
The details of this study are published in Angewandte Chemie International Edition.
