A Multicopper Oxidase from Paenibacillus Polyethylenelyticus JNU01 Oxidizes Polyethylene

Yun, Seung-Do [Chonnam National University; Korea Advanced Institute of Science & Technology]; Kim, Seongmin [Chonnam National University]; Jin An, Seong [Chonnam National University]; Kim, Hyun-Woo [Chonnam National University]; Cho, Jin-Hee [Chonnam National University]; Francis Son, Hyeoncheol [Chonnam National University]; Yun, Chul-Ho [Chonnam National University]; Hyun Sung, Bong [Korea Research Institute of Bioscience and Biotechnology]; Beckham, Gregg [National Laboratory of the Rockies, Golden, CO (United States)] (ORCID:000000023480212X); Chi, Won Seok [Chonnam National University]; Park, Chungoo [Chonnam National University]; Yeom, Soo-Jin [Chonnam National University]

doi:10.1016/j.cej.2026.180903

DOE OSTI · 3683907

A Multicopper Oxidase from Paenibacillus Polyethylenelyticus JNU01 Oxidizes Polyethylene

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Abstract

Polyethylene (PE) is a widely used plastic that persists in the environment and resists breakdown via microbial degradation. In this work, we discovered a new bacterium, Paenibacillus polyethylenelyticus JNU01, that grows on a PE-like wax (PELW, 4 kDa) as its sole carbon source, causing chemical modifications to the substrate and releasing small-molecule products. Genomic and transcriptomic analyses identified a multicopper oxidase (PpMmcO) as a key enzyme candidate for this observed activity. PpMmcO promoted surface oxidation, increased hydrophilicity, and the release of small-molecule products such as ketones, alkanes, and alkenoic acids. Scanning electron microscopy confirmed surface damage on both PELW and post-use greenhouse PE films. Weight loss analysis showed mass losses of 5.2% for the PELW powder and 1.6% for the greenhouse PE film after treatment with wild-type PpMmcO. We propose a radical-mediated pathway catalyzed by PpMmcO. These findings identify a new bacterium and enzyme capable of promoting partial PE oxidation and provide insight into biological processes that may act on polyethylene.

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36 MATERIALS SCIENCE 37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CHEMISTRY PpMmcO oxidation paenibacillus polyethylenelyticus JNU01 plastics polyethylene

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Yun, Seung-Do [Chonnam National University; Korea Advanced Institute of Science & Technology], Kim, Seongmin [Chonnam National University], Jin An, Seong [Chonnam National University], Kim, Hyun-Woo [Chonnam National University], Cho, Jin-Hee [Chonnam National University], Francis Son, Hyeoncheol [Chonnam National University], Yun, Chul-Ho [Chonnam National University], Hyun Sung, Bong [Korea Research Institute of Bioscience and Biotechnology], Beckham, Gregg [National Laboratory of the Rockies, Golden, CO (United States)] (ORCID:000000023480212X), Chi, Won Seok [Chonnam National University], Park, Chungoo [Chonnam National University], Yeom, Soo-Jin [Chonnam National University]. 2026-08-21. A Multicopper Oxidase from Paenibacillus Polyethylenelyticus JNU01 Oxidizes Polyethylene. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cej.2026.180903

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