Polyethylene biotransformation by an earthworm gut-derived Streptomyces sp.: insights into microenvironment-associated metabolism
- 1Department of Research and Development, Bioremedix Biotechnology 1 , Izmir, Turkiye
- 2Department of Biology, Atatürk University 2 , Erzurum, Turkiye
Abstract
Polyethylene (PE) is a highly recalcitrant polymer that resists microbial degradation owing to its hydrophobic and chemically inert structure. In this study, a Streptomyces sp. strain MH-1, isolated from the earthworm gut, was investigated for its interaction with PE under carbon-limited conditions. The strain was associated with approximately 15% reduction in PE weight after 30 days of incubation. Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) analysis revealed alterations in polymer chemistry, including a reduction in the carbonyl peak (approx. 1715 cm‒1) and a decrease in the carbonyl index from 0.19 in the control to 0.10 in treated samples. In silico analysis using a closely related Streptomyces genome as a reference framework identified putative genes associated with hydrocarbon metabolism and suggested potential oxidative and assimilatory pathways. Candidate aldehyde dehydrogenases, including bifunctional alcohol/aldehyde dehydrogenase (adhE), together with genes associated with fatty acid metabolism and β-oxidation, may indicate potential mechanisms involved in the processing of oxidation intermediates. These findings, combined with biofilm formation and growth under confined conditions, highlight the importance of PE-associated microenvironments and provide a basis for exploring microbial adaptation and potential metabolic processes involved in PE biotransformation.
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BibTeX
@article{haghi2026polyethylene,
title = {{Polyethylene biotransformation by an earthworm gut-derived Streptomyces sp.: insights into microenvironment-associated metabolism}},
author = {Morteza Haghi and Tugce Haghi and Torkan Haghi and Zaka Abbaszade},
journal = {Royal Society Open Science},
year = {2026},
month = oct,
doi = {10.1098/rsos.261333},
url = {https://royalsocietypublishing.org/rsos/article/13/10/261333/483628/Polyethylene-biotransformation-by-an-earthworm-gut},
note = {CC BY 4.0},
}
RIS
TY - JOUR
TI - Polyethylene biotransformation by an earthworm gut-derived Streptomyces sp.: insights into microenvironment-associated metabolism
AU - Morteza Haghi
AU - Tugce Haghi
AU - Torkan Haghi
AU - Zaka Abbaszade
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/10/14
JO - Royal Society Open Science
DO - 10.1098/rsos.261333
UR - https://royalsocietypublishing.org/rsos/article/13/10/261333/483628/Polyethylene-biotransformation-by-an-earthworm-gut
AB - Polyethylene (PE) is a highly recalcitrant polymer that resists microbial degradation owing to its hydrophobic and chemically inert structure. In this study, a Streptomyces sp. strain MH-1, isolated from the earthworm gut, was investigated for its interaction with PE under carbon-limited conditions. The strain was associated with approximately 15% reduction in PE weight after 30 days of incubation. Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) analysis revealed alterations in polymer chemistry, including a reduction in the carbonyl peak (approx. 1715 cm‒1) and a decrease in the carbonyl index from 0.19 in the control to 0.10 in treated samples. In silico analysis using a closely related Streptomyces genome as a reference framework identified putative genes associated with hydrocarbon metabolism and suggested potential oxidative and assimilatory pathways. Candidate aldehyde dehydrogenases, including bifunctional alcohol/aldehyde dehydrogenase (adhE), together with genes associated with fatty acid metabolism and β-oxidation, may indicate potential mechanisms involved in the processing of oxidation intermediates. These findings, combined with biofilm formation and growth under confined conditions, highlight the importance of PE-associated microenvironments and provide a basis for exploring microbial adaptation and potential metabolic processes involved in PE biotransformation.
SN - 2054-5703
ER -