Advances in amidases and urethanases as depolymerization biocatalysts.

Metagenomic enzymes targeting stable bonds in plastics show promise but currently lack sufficient activity for efficient nylon and polyurethane depolymerization.

• Why it matters: Plastic waste accumulation and environmental pollution demand effective biodegradation methods, especially for durable polymers like nylons and polyurethanes, which resist hydrolysis.
• What they did: The study reviews natural hydrolase enzyme diversity, their catalytic features, and explores protein engineering strategies, including bioinformatics and high-throughput screening, to enhance depolymerization.
• The result: Advancing hydrolase-based plastic depolymerization through these approaches could surpass current PET recycling methods, enabling more sustainable waste management solutions.