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Abstract

Plastic pollution has become a serious issue on Earth. Although
efficient industrial recycling processes exist, a significant fraction
of plastic waste still ends up in nature, where it can endure for
centuries. Slow mechanical and chemical decay lead to the formation of
micro- and nanoplastics, which are washed from land into rivers and
finally end up in the oceans. As such particles cannot be efficiently
removed from the environment, biological degradation mechanisms are
highly desirable. Several enzymes have been described that are capable
of degrading certain plastic materials such as polyethylene
terephthalate (PET). Such enzymes have a huge potential for future
biotechnology applications. However, they require model systems that can
be efficiently adapted to very specific conditions. Here, we present
detailed instructions, how to convert the model diatom Phaeodactylum
into a solar-fueled microbial cell factory for PETase expression,
resulting in a whole cell catalyst for PET degradation at moderate
temperatures under saltwater conditions.