University of Chile identifies Atacama enzyme capable of degrading plastic

Researchers at the University of Chile’s Center for Biotechnology and Bioengineering (CeBiB) have identified a bacterial enzyme capable of degrading polyethylene terephthalate (PET), a common plastic used in bottles, packaging, and textiles.

Published in the journal Protein Science, the study details the characterization of the enzyme PETS26b, which was sourced from microorganisms found in the extreme environment of the Atacama Desert. Led by researcher Sebastián Rodríguez, the team suggests that this plastic-degrading ability may not have evolved specifically to process synthetic materials, but rather as a consequence of pre-existing biological functions. This discovery offers potential applications for environmental biotechnology and the advancement of a circular economy.