Cited by 334Microplastics and Plastic PollutionMicrobial bioremediation and biosurfactantsbiodegradable polymer synthesis and properties

Biodegradation of Polystyrene by Pseudomonas sp. Isolated from the Gut of Superworms (Larvae of Zophobas atratus)

Kim, Hong Rae, Lee, Hyun Min, Yu, Hee Cheol, Jeon, Eunbeen, Lee, Sukkyoo, Li, Jiaojie, Kim, Dae-Hwan·2020·Environmental Science & Technology

Abstract

Recently, various attempts have been made to solve plastic waste problems, such as development of biodegradation without producing pollution. Polystyrene (PS) is the fifth most used plastic in many industries; therefore, degrading PS becomes a critical global issue. Here, we reported Pseudomonas aeruginosa strain DSM 50071, initially isolated from the gut of the superworms, Zophobas atratus, and the PS degradation by Pseudomonas sp. DSM 50071. We examined PS degradation using electronic microscopy and measured changes in atomic composition and contact angles with water droplets on the PS surface that represents a chemical change from hydrophobicity to hydrophilicity. We have further examined chemical structural changes using X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, Fourier-transform-infrared spectroscopy, and nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) to confirm the formation of carbonyl groups (C═O) in the oxidation pathway during PS biodegradation. In reverse transcription quantitative polymerase chain reaction analysis, the gene expression level of serine hydrolase (SH) in Pseudomonas sp. DSM 50071 was highly increased during PS degradation, and the enzyme-mediated biodegradation of PS was further confirmed by the SH inhibitor treatment test. Thus, the significance of these findings goes beyond the discovery of a novel function of Pseudomonas sp. DSM 50071 in the gut of superworms, highlighting a potential solution for PS biodegradation.

Integrity signals

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Crossref · 10.1021/acs.est.0c01495

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  • A serine hydrolase was identified as a key enzyme during PS degradation mediated by Pseudomonas.

    “recent work identied a serine hydrolase as a key enzyme during PS degradation mediated by Pseudomonas.119”

    From The fate of plastic in the ocean environment – a minireview (2021) · cites this paper as [119]

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Authors
Kim, H. R., Lee, H. M., Yu, H. C., Jeon, E., Lee, S., Li, J., & Kim, D.-H.
Affiliations
  • Daegu Gyeongbuk Institute of Science and Technology (KR)
  • Gwangju Institute of Science and Technology (KR)
Corresponding author
  • Li, Jiaojie
  • Kim, Dae-Hwan
Venue
Environmental Science & Technology
Published
2020-05-06
Volume
54
Issue
11
Pages
6987-6996
ISSN
  • 0013-936X (ISSN-L)
  • 1520-5851
OpenAlex
W3023926962
Cited by
334
References
40
Citations by year
2026: 60 · 2025: 51 · 2024: 76 · 2023: 53 · 2022: 55 · 2021: 31 · 2020: 8
FWCI
9.08
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
closed
Locations
  • Environmental Science & Technology (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
Funders
  • Daegu Gyeongbuk Institute of Science and Technology
  • Gwangju Institute of Science and Technology (GK11750)
  • CJ company
Topics
  • Physical Sciences › Environmental Science › Pollution › Microplastics and Plastic Pollution
  • Physical Sciences › Environmental Science › Pollution › Microbial bioremediation and biosurfactants
  • Physical Sciences › Materials Science › Biomaterials › biodegradable polymer synthesis and properties
Keywords
polystyrene biodegradation, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Zophobas atratus, plastic waste, serine hydrolases, carbonyl formation, surface hydrophilicity, enzyme inhibition
MeSH terms
Gastrointestinal Microbiome, Animals, Coleoptera, Biodegradation, Environmental, Larva, Polystyrenes, Pseudomonas

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