Hydrolysis of Cutin by PET-Hydrolases |
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| Authors: | Justyna Korpecka Sonja Heumann Susan Billig Wolfgang Zimmermann Manfred Zinn Julian Ihssen Artur Cavaco-Paulo Georg M. Guebitz |
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| Affiliation: | 1. Graz University of Technology, Institute of Environmental Biotechnology, Petersgasse 12, 8010 Graz, Austria;2. Research Centre Applied Biocatalysis, Petersgasse 14, 8010 Graz, Austria;3. Universität Leipzig, Dept. of Microbiology and Bioprocess Technology, Johannisallee 23, 04103 Leipzig, Germany;4. Swiss Federal Laboratories for Materials Testing and Research, Laboratory for Biomaterials, Lerchenfeldstrasse 5, 9014 St. Gallen, Switzerland;5. University of Minho, Textile Engineering Department, 4800 Guimaraes, Portugal |
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| Abstract: | Functionalisation of synthetic polymers by using enzymes has been recently demonstrated. The major advantage of enzymes over chemical processes lies in their surface specific and endo-wise mode of action. Surface hydrophilisation of PET with lipases and cutinases leads to a dramatic increase of the surfacial acid and hydroxyl group content while conventional chemical treatment does not cause any change. However, this PET-hydrolysing activity by enzymes from distinct classes has not yet been correlated to activity on natural polyesters. Here, we show that lipases, cutinases and a PHA-depolymerase are all capable of hydrolysing PET, while only lipases and cutinases also hydrolysed cutin to various degrees. Lipases showed a higher specificity for terminal fatty acids while the cutinases preferred hydroxy fatty acids during cutin hydrolysis. |
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| Keywords: | cutin pet-hydrolase polyester |
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