# Harnessing bacterial power and omics technologies for sustainable plastic waste biodegradation

## TL;DR

This paper reviews how bacteria and omics technologies can help break down plastic waste in a sustainable way.

## Contribution

The paper introduces an integrative approach combining bacterial metabolism and multi-omics tools for sustainable plastic degradation.

## Key findings

- Bacteria like Thermobifida and Pseudomonas species are key in degrading plastics through enzymes such as PETase.
- Multi-omics tools enhance understanding of plastic degradation without requiring pure cultures.
- AI and biotechnology can optimize enzyme activity and predict degradation processes.

## Abstract

Plastic pollution constitutes a critical environmental concern of this era, with synthetic polymers, i.e., polyethylene (PE), polyethylene terephthalate (PET), polystyrene (PS), and polyurethane (PU), accumulating in terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems at alarming rates. One of the promising solutions to this worldwide problem is microbial plastic degradation, particularly by bacteria that can convert polymeric materials into less toxic compounds. With an emphasis on enzymatic mechanisms, critical environmental and biochemical factors influencing degradation, and the wide variety of bacteria responsible for breaking down synthetic polymers, this review focuses on the enzymatic and genetic aspects underlying bacterial plastic degradation, highlighting key enzymes such as PETase, METase, esterase, and oxidoreductase, as well as representative plastic-degrading bacteria i.e. Thermobifida, Ideonella, Bacillus, Agromyces, Pseudomonas, Schlegelella species. The significance of multi-omics tools, such as transcriptomics, proteomics, metabolomics, and genomics was demonstrated here in deepening our understanding of microbial plastic degradation without depending on pure culture. It explores the key genes and metabolic pathways that facilitate this process. Moreover, how advanced biotechnological techniques and artificial intelligence (AI) can participate in plastic biodegradation through enzyme engineering, activity-enhancing mutation design, predictive modeling, and omics data analysis was illustrated. Furthermore, this review underscores the necessity for integrative and interdisciplinary approaches to effectively harness bacterial metabolism for long-term reduction of plastic pollution. Also, it outlines future research directions and technological priorities for translating bacterial plastic degradation into practical and sustainable remediation solutions.