Biocatalytic Degradation Efficiency of Postconsumer Polyethylene Terephthalate Packaging Determined by Their Polymer Microstructures.

Polyethylene terephthalate (PET) is the most important mass-produced thermoplastic polyester used as a packaging material. Recently, thermophilic polyester hydrolases such as TfCut2 from have emerged as promising biocatalysts for an eco-friendly PET recycling process. In this study, postconsumer PET food packaging containers are treated with TfCut2 and show weight losses of more than 50% after 96 h of incubation at 70 °C.

Homogeneity and heterogeneity in amylase production by Bacillus subtilis under different growth conditions.

Background: Bacillus subtilis is an important cell factory for the biotechnological industry due to its ability to secrete commercially relevant proteins in large amounts directly into the growth medium. However, hyper-secretion of proteins, such as α-amylases, leads to induction of the secretion stress-responsive CssR-CssS regulatory system, resulting in up-regulation of the HtrA and HtrB proteases. These proteases degrade misfolded proteins secreted via the Sec pathway, resulting in a loss of product.