Unraveling the Interplay between Stability and Flexibility in the Design of Polyethylene Terephthalate (PET) Hydrolases.

The accumulation of polyethylene terephthalate (PET), a widely used polyester plastic in packaging and textiles, has led to a global environmental crisis. Biodegradation presents a promising strategy for PET recycling, with PET hydrolases (PETase) undertaking the task at the molecular level. Unfortunately, PETase operates only at ambient temperatures with low efficiency, limiting its industrial application.