Clonostachys rosea strain:PCL Genome sequencing
The fungus Clonostachys rosea is demonstrated to degrade polycaprolactone and polyurethane plastics, yet the biological mechanisms it uses to do this remain poorly understood. We constructed the genome of a polycaprolactone (PCL)-degrading strain of C. rosea and monitored changes in gene expression when exposed to PCL. Twelve gene transcripts linked to PCL degradation were upregulated in the presence of the plastic, including an esterase PHB depolymerase and cutinase. The high expression of these two genes with hydrolase activity, and associated with PET degradation, support that C. rosea may repurpose its metabolic machinery for aromatic compound degradation towards PCL breakdown. We confirm the presence of key metabolic pathways and processes linked to PCL degradation in C. rosea, contributing additional evidence of the metabolic pathways and transcripts thought to be central to plastic degradation.