[INFORMATIVE] Ideonella Sakaiensis: Nature's Answer to Plastic Pollution

Ideonella Sakaiensis: Nature's Answer to Plastic Pollution

By: Joylene Patricia

With the ongoing problem with plastic waste, nature has given humanity a solution to stop the lasting negative effects it has on the environment. Ideonella Sakaiensis has shown a remarkable ability to break down and utilize the plastic Polyethylene Terephthalate (PET) as a source of both carbon and energy. This bacterium was initially discovered in a sediment sample collected outside a plastic bottle recycling facility in Sakai City, Japan.

We can conclude that even after many years or after we have found alternatives for plastic, we will never be able to fully stop the usage of plastic. If we look at our current resolve to discard plastic, there is nearly none. Plastic is simply left to rot on its own for the next decades, but there is no actual solution on how it can be completely gone. This is why the founding of Ideonella Sakaiensis has such a big impact on how we can finally stop the negative effects of plastic pollution.

The Usage of Ideonella Sakaiensis
PET, like all plastics, is composed of long, string-like molecules formed from smaller molecules linked together into chains. Due to the strong chemical bonds in PET chains, it is durable and long-lasting—qualities that are undesirable in single-use plastics.

The bacteria's remarkable ability stems from a pair of enzymes it produces. Enzymes are intricate molecules that accelerate chemical reactions and play a vital role in our bodily functions. For instance, amylase, an enzyme found in our saliva, breaks down the complex starch molecules in foods like bread.

The Ideonella Sakaiensis 201-F6 bacterium creates two distinct enzymes. The first, PETase, breaks down PET molecules into smaller MHET molecules. The second enzyme, MHETase, then further breaks down MHET to produce ethylene glycol and terephthalic acid.

The Impact of Ideonella Sakaiensis
Ideonella Sakaiensis has the ability to degrade and break down types of plastic that contain chemicals, namely Polyethylene Terephthalate (PET). Polyethylene Terephthalate (PET) is a type of plastic content that is commonly difficult to degrade so that it has an impact on global environmental problems. With this newfound discovery, the current ongoing problem with PET can slowly be resolved with the founding of Ideonella Sakaiensis.

“The difference with the 2016 paper was this microorganism could use the plastic as its sole energy and food source,” says John McGeehan of the University of Portsmouth. “That’s actually quite surprising, and it kind of shows evolutionary pressure in action. If you’re the first bacterium in that rubbish pile that suddenly has a taste for plastic, then you’ve got an unlimited food source.”

Does it Pose as A Potential Threat?
The bacterium Ideonella Sakaiensis is currently under study for its ability to break down PET in sewage-fed fisheries. Researchers have found that different strains of this bacterium do not pose a threat to fish growth and cultivation. This particular species of bacterium effectively utilizes PET as a carbon source and thrives in water ecosystems contaminated with plastic, showing potential as a cost-effective solution for combating pollution.

Seeing as there are no signs of any downsides with the use of Ideonella Sakaiensis, continuous usage does not raise any new concerns for the environment or humanity. With new innovations and technology being used to develop better and faster bacteria to disintegrate plastic waste, the future of plastic-eating bacteria might offer significant benefits towards our future.

Sources
Marshall, Michael. “How “Super-Enzymes” That Eat Plastics Could Curb Our Waste Problem.” The Guardian, 5 Feb. 2022, www.theguardian.com/environment/2022/feb/05/how-super-enzymes-that-eat-plastics-could-curb-our-waste-problem#:~:text=Ideonella%20sakaiensis%20201%2DF6%20produces.

Juliana, Sherina, et al., “Potential of Ideonella Sakaiensis Bacteria in Degrading Plastic Waste Type Polyethylene Terephthalate.” Jurnal Biologi Tropis, vol. 22, no. 2, 18 Mar. 2022, pp. 381–389, https://doi.org/10.29303/jbt.v22i2.3321. Accessed 17 Sept. 2024.
Wikipedia Contributors. “Ideonella Sakaiensis.” Wikipedia, Wikimedia Foundation, 5 Sept. 2024, en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ideonella_sakaiensis #:~:text=Various%20strains%20of%20this%20bacterium. Accessed 17 Sept. 2024.