Application of Cutinase in Polyester Degradations

Polyethylene terephthalate (PET), as a major kind of polyester, has become a large source of plastic pollution with an increase of consumption. Currently, different strategies have been exerted for PET degradation, such as enzymatic degradation. To improve degradation efficiency, molecular modification has been proven to enhance the activities of PET degrading enzymes. This study modified T. fusca cutinase by site-directed mutagenesis to enhance its activity on PET fiber. Mutants I218A and Q132A/T101A exhibited considerably higher degradation activities on PET. Cutinase-CBM mutants could also increase degradation activity on PET by modifying CBM binding sites, which exhibited obvious significant improvement in binding affinity and degradation activity toward PET fiber. In addition, this study also summarized the present situation and progresses of PET plastics degradation by enzymatic treatments. Several strategies have been proposed to enhance the degradation performance of enzymes on PET plastics.