Comparative Genomic Analysis of Plastic-Degrading Enzymes in Exiguobacterium and Ideonella sakaiensis
Julia Cedillo
Department of Biology
Faculty Supervisor: José R. de la Torre
Plastic pollution is a growing environmental concern, driving the search for microbial solutions capable of degrading synthetic polymers. This study investigates the plastic-degrading potential of Exiguobacterium sp. BMC-KP and compares it with Ideonella sakaiensis 201-F6, a bacterium known for its PET-degrading enzymes. Using IMG, GeneMarkS, NCBI ORF Finder, and KEGG KASS Annotation server, we analyzed both genomes to identify open reading frames (ORFs) encoding hydrolytic enzymes. Functional annotation through KEGG enabled the classification of candidate enzymes and metabolic pathway mapping. The results revealed multiple ORFs encoding putative plastic-degrading enzymes in both species, including cutinases, esterases, and PET hydrolases. KEGG analysis indicated that these enzymes are involved in ester bond hydrolysis, a key mechanism in plastic degradation. Comparative analysis showed similarities in plastic-degrading pathways, with Exiguobacterium sp. BMC-KP displaying unique hydrolases not found in I. sakaiensis. These findings highlight Exiguobacterium sp. BMC-KP as a promising candidate for bioremediation alongside I. sakaiensis. The identified enzymes could contribute to eco-friendly plastic waste management strategies. Further experimental validation is necessary to confirm their efficiency and explore their potential for large-scale applications.