Single-atom tweak doubles speed of PET plastic-degrading enzyme

Researchers at The Australian National University replaced a single atom in the PETase enzyme by adding a synthetic amino acid called azatryptophan. The modified enzyme breaks down PET nearly twice as fast while keeping its heat resistance. Over 350 million tons of PET waste are generated globally each year.

• Swapping one carbon-hydrogen pair for nitrogen in tryptophan doubled PET breakdown speed
• The enzyme kept its thermal stability, bypassing the activity-versus-stability trade-off
• A new fluorescent assay called PETra cut testing from days to minutes
• More than 350 million tons of PET waste are produced worldwide annually