A Pollution Solution?

3D Model

PET-hydrolyzing enzymes that degrade PET into its building block are a cost-effective and environmentally-friendly solution to the current plastic crisis. PETase has a similar overall fold as related enzymes but holds several unique structural features near the active site to break down PET more effectively. PETase has significant substrate-interacting residues on the protein surface. The enzyme also has an additional disulfide bridge (DS1) and a unique Serine that enables W156 wobbling. Research suggests that the outstanding performance of PETase, at least partially, relies on the presence of the unique S185.