(67a) Engineering Vibrio natriegens for Degrading and Assimilating Poly(ethylene terephthalate)

Poly(ethylene terephthalate) (PET) is a highly recyclable plastic material that has been extensively used and manufactured. Like other plastics, PET resists natural degradation, therefore accumulates in the natural environment. Several recycling strategies have been applied to manage waste PET, but these tend to result in downcycled products that eventually end up in landfills. This accumulation of landfilled PET waste contributes to the formation of microplastics by being broken down into small pieces that pose a serious threat to marine life and ecosystems, and potentially to human health. To address this issue, our project leverages synthetic biology and metabolic engineering to develop a whole-cell biocatalyst capable of degrading and assimilating waste PET in seawater environments. Specifically, we focus on using the fast-growing, nonpathogenic, moderate halophile Vibrio natriegens to construct this biocatalyst. Our talk will highlight two main processes we implemented in our bacterium: PET depolymerization and metabolism of PET breakdown products.