The role of nitrogen metabolism on polyethylene biodegradation

Polyethylene (PE) is the most widely used plastic and its accumulation on natural environments has reached alarming levels causing severe damage to wildlife and human health. Despite the significance of this global issue, little is known about specific metabolic mechanisms behind PE biodegradation—a...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Journal of hazardous materials 2022-06, Vol.432, p.128682-128682, Article 128682
Main Authors: Peixoto, Julianna, Vizzotto, Carla, Ramos, Alexandre, Alves, Gabriel, Steindorff, Andrei, Krüger, Ricardo
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Biodegradation
Biodegradation, Environmental
Comamonas
Comamonas - metabolism
Delftia
Humans
Nitric oxide
Nitrogen
Plastics
Polyethylene
Polyethylene - metabolism
Stenotrophomonas
Stenotrophomonas - metabolism
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Summary:Polyethylene (PE) is the most widely used plastic and its accumulation on natural environments has reached alarming levels causing severe damage to wildlife and human health. Despite the significance of this global issue, little is known about specific metabolic mechanisms behind PE biodegradation—a promising and sustainable remediation method. Herein, we describe a novel role of nitrogen metabolism in the fragmentation and oxidation of PE mediated by biological production of NOx in three PE-degrading strains of Comamonas, Delftia, and Stenotrophomonas. Resultant nitrated PE fragments are assimilated and then metabolized by these bacteria in a process assisted by nitronate monooxygenases and nitroreductases to support microbial growth. Due to the conservation of nitrogen metabolism genes, we anticipate that this oxidative mechanism is potentially shared by other nitrifier and denitrifier microbes. [Display omitted] •PE-degraders herein described are heterotrophic nitrifiers and aerobic denitrifiers.•Nitrogen metabolism supports bacterial strains in degrading and metabolizing PE.•Biotic NOx induces oxidative fragmentation of PE by nitration.•Nitrated PE fragments are assimilated by PE-degrading bacteria.•NMO and NTR assist in the metabolism of nitrated PE fragments.
ISSN:0304-3894
1873-3336
DOI:10.1016/j.jhazmat.2022.128682