Table 2 Studies on PDE and PDM using bioinformatic and advanced computational tools

Enhancing biofilm formation and identification of novel PET-degrading enzymes

PET

Genomic mining

Two novel PET-degrading enzymes discovered and maximization of biofilm formation

[119]

Maximization of PET degradation by enzyme engineering

PET

Machine learning algorithm

An efficient and novel PET-degrading enzyme active between 30-50°C and a wide pH range

[115]

Identification and characterization of novel PDE

PET

Sequence-based screening

Protocol standardization for identifying novel polymer-degrading enzymes in culturable and nonculturable microbes

[120]

Identification of enzymes for plastic breakdown from plastic-associated microbiomes

PS, LDPE, HDPE, and PVC

Functional metagenomics

Discovery of new cutinolytic esterase tolerant to various stresses and active against multiple plastics.

[64]

Comparison of the binding mode of TPA to novel homological enzymes of PETase

PET

Molecular docking, quantum-mechanical analysis

Enhancement of catalytic activity of polyester hydrolase and its thermostability

[121]

Transcriptomic analysis of a bacteria grown on PE by RNA-sequencing

PE

Transcriptomic analysis

Identification of genes for oxidation of polymer, and encoding membrane transporters

[122]

Isolation and characterization of plasticizer-degrading microbes from the marine environment

Multiple plasticizers including dibutyl phthalate, bis (2-ethyl hexyl) phthalate, and acetyl tributyl citrate

Proteo-genomics and metabolomics

Elucidation of the dibutyl phthalate, bis (2-ethyl hexyl) phthalate, and acetyl tributyl citrate degradation pathways by microbes in the plastisphere

[123]

Creation of an open-access database for PET and PUR

PET and PUR

BLAST, Sequence identity

-

[124]

Identification of novel PDE from a plastisphere

(Matter-Bi, Biofilm and Bioflex) (61% PBAT + 13% PLA) and ecovio® (64% PBAT + 3% PLA)

DNA metagenomics, sequencing, and functional validation screening

Identification of a novel esterase enzyme

[105]

Investigation of enzymatic capabilities of Bacillus albus for PVC microplastic degradation

PVC

Molecular docking, BLAST, phylogenetic analysis, homology modeling, gene heatmap, etc.

Provides insights into alpha/beta hydrolase’s interactions with PVC as substrate

[125]

Screening fungal lipases for degradation potential of various microplastic degradation

Polycarbonate, PET, PP, PS, and PVC

BLAST, molecular docking, multiple sequence alignment, phylogenetic analysis, structure prediction, etc.

Identification of 71 novel lipase genes in 13 fungal species

[126]

Evaluation of degradation efficiency of MHETase

Hydrolytic product of PET, MHET

Multiple sequence alignment, homology modeling, BLASTP, phylogenetic tree analysis and molecular docking

Identification of MHETase enzyme of P. litoralis with high MHET degradation efficiency

[127]

Investigation of bacterial community dynamics due to PP enrichment and enzymes involved

PP

Shotgun metagenomic sequencing

Elucidation of the dynamic nature of plastic-degrading bacteria across various stages of degradation and identification of PP-degrading enzymes

[128]

Study of the microbial consortia, degradation pathways, and enzymes responsible for plastic degradation in pond sediments

PHA, PLA, PBAT, PET, polyhydroxy butyrate, nylon, polyvinyl alcohol, PU, PE, PCL, etc.

Shotgun metagenomics sequencing, Average amino-acid Profiler, and BLASTP

Deciphering microbial consortia, enzymes, and pathways involved in 23 types of plastics

[129]