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New approach boosts plastic-eating enzyme's activity nearly tenfold

New approach boosts plastic-eating enzyme's activity nearly tenfold
Phys.org Tuesday 10 November 2026, 21:00 UTC 1 min read
Key Points

Researchers from King's College London and Rutgers University in New Jersey created a modified enzyme (a protein that speeds up chemical reactions) that breaks down polyethylene terephthalate (PET) plastic 10 times quicker, using 10 times less enzyme. They accomplished this just by changing the liquid it works in and making small changes to the enzyme's structure.

Researchers from King's College London and Rutgers University in New Jersey created a modified enzyme (a protein that speeds up chemical reactions) that breaks down polyethylene terephthalate (PET) plastic 10 times quicker, using 10 times less enzyme. They accomplished this just by changing the liquid it works in and making small changes to the enzyme's structure.
King's College London (ORG) Rutgers University (ORG) New Jersey (LOCATION)
Originally published by Phys.org Read original →

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