title: Isolation and characterization of a bacterium that degrades various polyester-based biodegradable plastics.
abstract: Microorganisms isolated from soil samples were screened for their ability to degrade various biodegradable polyester-based plastics. The most active strain, designated as strain TB-13, was selected as the best strain for degrading these plastics. From its phenotypic and genetic characteristics, strain TB-13 was closely related to Paenibacillus amyloyticus. It could degrade poly(lactic acid), poly(butylene succinate), poly(butylene succinate-co-adipate), poly(caprolactone) and poly(ethylene succinate) but not poly(hydroxybutylate-co-valerate). However, it could not utilize these plastics as sole carbon sources. Both protease and esterase activities, which may be involved in the degradation of plastic, were constitutively detected in the culture broth.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Applied Biochemistry, University of Tsukuba, Tsukuba, Ibaraki 305-8572, Japan.
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Teeraphatpornchai
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Nakajima-Kambe
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Shigeno-Akutsu
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Nakayama
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Nomura
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Nakahara
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Uchiyama
mesh_terms: D000272:Adipates / Q000378:metabolism; D001420:Bacteria, Aerobic / Q000145:classification / Q000302:isolation & purification* / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000502:physiology; D001673:Biodegradation, Environmental; D010450:Endopeptidases / Q000378:metabolism; D004950:Esterases / Q000378:metabolism; D019344:Lactic Acid / Q000378:metabolism; D010969:Plastics / Q000378:metabolism*; D011091:Polyesters / Q000378:metabolism*; D011108:Polymers / Q000378:metabolism; D012988:Soil Microbiology; D013045:Species Specificity; D013386:Succinates / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D000272:Adipates; D010969:Plastics; D011091:Polyesters; D011108:Polymers; D013386:Succinates; C437084:poly(tetramethylene succinate-co-tetramethylene adipate); D019344:Lactic Acid; C033616:poly(lactide); D004950:Esterases; D010450:Endopeptidases