INTRODUCTION

PET is a condensation polymer used in plastic that is highly resistant to biodegradation. It is

industrially produced by either terephthalic acid or dimethyl terephthalate with ethylene glycol.
To date, very few species of fungi – but no bacteria – have been found to break down this
polymer.

The Japanese team, led by Dr. Kohei Oda from the Kyoto Institute of Technology and Dr. Kenji
Miyamoto from Keio University, collected 250 samples of PET debris and screened for bacterial
candidates that depend on PET film as a primary source of carbon for growth.

They identified Ideonella sakaiensis 201-F6, which could nearly completely degrade a thin film
of PET after six weeks at a temperature of 86 degrees Fahrenheit (30 degrees Celsius).

CHARACTERIZATION
Physical Attributes

Ideonella sakaiensis is Gram-negative, aerobic, and rod-shaped. Cells are motile and have a
single flagellum. Colonies of I. sakaiensis are colorless, smooth, and circular. Its size varies from
0.6 to 0.8 μm in width and 1.2-1.5 μm in length.

Chemical Attributes

I. sakaiensis also tests positive for oxidase and catalase. The bacterium grows at a pH range of
5.5 to 9.0 (optimally at 7 to 7.5) and a temperature of 15–42°C (optimally at 30–37°C). Ideonella
Sakaiensis adhering to PET plastic with its thin flagellum & delivering PET-degrading enzymes
to the plastics surface.

Use of Characteristics

The gram negativity in bacteria makes it so they have resistant abilities and genes; this could
include antibiotic resistance. The gram negativity as a characteristic also signifies this bacteria
has a thin cell wall and has a high lipid content. The aerobic aspect of this bacteria makes it so
that it can only grow and thrive in an environment that contains the presence of oxygen within
their vicinity. Ideonella sakaiensis and other aerobic bacterium are therefore known to survive in
oxygen-rich soil that is moist and aerated. The flagellum attached to this bacteria are used as
motile organelles and are able to rotate and thrust the cell throughout its environment by creating
motion. The bacterium was also shown to grow on Polyethylene terephthalate (PET) surface
which is a type of plastic. The bacteria was able to adhere to the PET plastic with its thin
flagellum. This is shown in the image to the right. These flagellum may also function to secrete
PET-degrading enzymes onto the PET surface known as PETase. Through phylogenetic analysis,
the species was shown to be a part of the genus Ideonella, but possessed a significantly different
genome than other known species in the genus, including Ideonella dechloratans and Ideonella
azotifigens, thus justifying its classification as a new species.
(Ideonella sakaiensis adhering to PET plastic with its thin flagellum & delivering PET-degrading
enzymes to the plastic's surface)

REFERENCES
https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Ideonella_Sakaiensis_Eating_Plastics.png
https://www.sci.news/biology/ideonella-sakaiensis-bacterium-can-break-down-metabolize-
plastic-03693.html
https://www.gbif.org/species/165596032