PET-Degrading Enzymes Discovered

Scientists have discovered enzymes capable of degrading polyethylene terephthalate (PET). The enzymes, Ideonella sakaiensis PETase and MHETase can work in tandem to recycle PET. PETase first converts PET to mono-(2-hydroxyethyl) terephthalate (MHET); MHETase then coverts MHET to terephthalate and ethylene glycol. A recent paper describes the structure of MHETase.