title: Cutinase-like enzyme from the yeast Cryptococcus sp. strain S-2 hydrolyzes polylactic acid and other biodegradable plastics.
abstract: A purified lipase from the yeast Cryptococcus sp. strain S-2 exhibited remote homology to proteins belonging to the cutinase family rather than to lipases. This enzyme could effectively degrade the high-molecular-weight compound polylactic acid, as well as other biodegradable plastics, including polybutylene succinate, poly (epsilon-caprolactone), and poly(3-hydroxybutyrate).
authors.affiliation: Environmental Research Division, National Research Institute of Brewing, 3-7-1 Kagamiyama, Higashi-Hiroshima 739-0046, Japan. masaki@nrib.go.jp
authors.forename: Kazuo
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Masaki
authors.forename: Numbi Ramudu
authors.initials: NR
authors.lastname: Kamini
authors.forename: Hiroko
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Ikeda
authors.forename: Haruyuki
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Iefuji
mesh_terms: D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D001673:Biodegradation, Environmental; D002208:Caproates / Q000378:metabolism; D002265:Carboxylic Ester Hydrolases / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D003454:Cryptococcus / Q000201:enzymology*; D006885:Hydroxybutyrates / Q000378:metabolism; D019344:Lactic Acid / Q000378:metabolism; D007783:Lactones / Q000378:metabolism; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D010969:Plastics / Q000378:metabolism*; D011090:Polyenes / Q000378:metabolism; D011091:Polyesters; D011108:Polymers / Q000378:metabolism; D013386:Succinates / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D002208:Caproates; D006885:Hydroxybutyrates; D007783:Lactones; D010969:Plastics; D011090:Polyenes; D011091:Polyesters; D011108:Polymers; D013386:Succinates; D019344:Lactic Acid; C033616:poly(lactide); C121056:caprolactone; C008952:polybutene; D002265:Carboxylic Ester Hydrolases; C019952:cutinase