A new enzyme molecule has been discovered by researchers from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) that could have a major impact on the way marine bacteria are able to degrade plastics. This new enzyme, called Methylomarinovorans methylothermobutyricum (MMT), was discovered in a sample of seawater collected near the Japanese coast. This enzyme has the potential to break down plastic polymers, such as polyethylene terephthalate (PET), much more quickly than other known bacterial enzymes. This could help reduce the amount of plastic pollution that is accumulating in the world’s oceans. This discovery could also be used to create new biodegradable plastics that are less damaging to the environment.

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source: Phys.org