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Functional and genomic characterization of polyethylene degrading yeast Meyerozyma carpophila M6.0.2 isolated from marine plastic debris in East Java Indonesia

Summary

Researchers discovered a marine yeast called Meyerozyma carpophila that can break down polyethylene plastic. They found this yeast in plastic waste collected from Indonesian waters and tested its ability to degrade plastic in laboratory conditions. Using advanced genetic analysis, they identified specific enzymes and genes the yeast uses to break down plastic, making it a promising candidate for cleaning up ocean plastic pollution.

Background

Polyethylene (PE) is a major contributor to marine plastic pollution, accounting for approximately 64% of all plastic materials. Indonesia is the second-largest producer of marine plastic waste. Biodegradation is considered a more sustainable and economical alternative to photodegradation and thermal degradation methods for addressing PE pollution.

Objective

To screen six yeast strains isolated from marine plastic debris in East Java, Indonesia for polyethylene degradation ability and comprehensively characterize the most promising isolate through functional and genomic approaches.

Results

Meyerozyma carpophila M6.0.2 demonstrated the highest PE-degrading activity with 0.4923% degradation after 10 days. The strain showed strong biofilm-forming capacity and biosurfactant production. FTIR analysis revealed new peaks at 3425 cm⁻¹ and 1651 cm⁻¹ indicating oxidative degradation. Genome assembly yielded 10.34 Mb across 108 contigs with 5,352 predicted genes including PE-relevant enzymes such as laccase, peroxidases, P450 monooxygenases, and lipases.

Conclusion

Meyerozyma carpophila M6.0.2 is a promising candidate for bioremediation of marine plastic pollution. The integrated functional and genomic analysis revealed candidate genes and enzymes involved in PE biodegradation pathways. This is the first study to demonstrate PE-degrading ability in M. carpophila from a marine environment.
  • Published in:Scientific Reports,
  • Study Type:Experimental Research,
  • Source: PMID: 41253867, DOI: 10.1038/s41598-025-22911-5
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