Ming Yan

Purification and Reengineering of Plastic-Degrading

Enzymes

Plastic bags are made from polyethylene (PE), a polymer consisting of long chains of the ethylene monomer (C2H4).

Species of bacteria belonging to the Streptomyces genus are capable of producing polyethylene-degrading enzymes.

Streptomyces

Streptomyces

Streptomyces viridosporus

Streptomyces badius

Streptomyces setonii

How is Biodegradability Measured?

Weight lossTensile strength loss

measured stress at fracture of the specimen

Changes in percent elongation extension of material under load

Changes in polyethylene molecular weight distribution polydispersity

Project Ideas

Aim 1: To purify and characterize the biodegradable polyethylene-degrading enzyme(s) from bacterium belonging to the Streptomyces species

Aim 2: To enhance the biodegradability of the polyethylene by increasing the efficiency of the degrading enzymes through protein engineering techniques

Aim 1

Inspiration Enzymes identified for anaerobic degradation of

polyethylene glycol (PEG)

Technical Difficulties with the isolation methods

Aim 2

To enhance the biodegradability of the polyethylene by increasing the efficiency of the degrading enzymes through protein engineering techniques

Methods: Score system Protein engineering

Protein-Engineering

More Ideas