Description
PETases are an esterase class of enzymes that catalyze the hydrolysis of polyethylene terephthalate (PET) plastic to monomeric mono-2-hydroxyethyl terephthalate (MHET). The idealized chemical reaction is (where n is the number of monomers in the polymer chain):
(ethylene terephthalate)n + H2O → (ethylene terephthalate)n-1 + MHET
Trace amount of the PET breaks down to bis(2-hydroxyethyl) terephthalate (BHET). PETases can also break down PEF-plastic (polyethylene-2,5-furandicarboxylate), which is a bioderived PET replacement. PETases can't catalyze the hydrolysis of aliphatic polyesters like polybutylene succinate or polylactic acid.
Non-enzymatic natural degradation of PET will take hundreds of years, but PETases can degrade PET in matter of days.
Applications
Hydrolysis of polyethylene terephthalate (PET) plastic
Molecular Weight
27.6 Kda
Solubility
Soluble in distilled water or dilute buffer
