Standardization guidelines and future trends for PET hydrolase research
Nature Communications, vol. 16, pp. 4684
Abstract
Enzymatic depolymerization of polyethylene terephthalate (PET) towards monomer recycling offers a green route to a circular plastic economy, with scale-up currently underway. Yet, inconsistent assessment methods hinder clear comparisons between various PET hydrolases. This Perspective aims to identify critical gaps in this dynamic research field and outline key principles for selecting and tailoring novel enzymes, such as using uniform PET samples and standardizing reaction settings that mimic industrial conditions. Applying these guidelines will improve enzyme screening efficiency, increase data reproducibility, deepen the understanding of interfacial biocatalysis, and ultimately accelerate the development of more robust and cost-effective bio-based PET recycling methods. Enzymatic depolymerization of polyethylene terephthalate (PET) towards monomer recycling is a promising strategy for a bio-based circular plastic economy, but progress is limited by the lack of standard guidelines for assessing and comparing the depolymerization efficiency catalysed by various PET hydrolases. In this Perspective, the authors identify critical research gaps in sourcing novel PET hydrolases and specify crucial requirements for selecting and optimizing them for specific application scenarios.
Authors 5
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Ren Wei corresponding
Affiliation as printed
Department of Biotechnology & Enzyme Catalysis, Institute of Biochemistry, University of Greifswald, Greifswald, Germany. ren.wei@uni-greifswald.de
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Technical University of Denmark
Affiliation as printed
Department of Biotechnology and Biomedicine, Technical University of Denmark, Lyngby, Denmark
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Helmholtz-Zentrum Berlin für Materialien und Energie
Affiliation as printed
Macromolecular Crystallography, Helmholtz-Zentrum Berlin für Materialien und Energie, Berlin, Germany
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Lars M. Blank Aachen WSS Research Centre "catalaix" iAMB - Institute of Applied Microbiology. ABBt - Aachen Biology and Biotechnology
Affiliation as printed
WSS Research Centre "catalaix", RWTH Aachen University, Aachen, Germany
iAMB - Institute of Applied Microbiology. ABBt - Aachen Biology and Biotechnology, BioSC, RWTH Aachen University, Aachen, Germany
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Affiliation as printed
Department of Biotechnology & Enzyme Catalysis, Institute of Biochemistry, University of Greifswald, Greifswald, Germany
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