Scientists discover a plastic-eating “Pac-Man” enzyme with a surprising secret

Scientists have discovered a remarkable “Pac-Man enzyme” that helps bacteria devour certain types of plastic and may offer new hope in the fight against plastic pollution. Researchers found that several biodegradable plastics completely broke down in soil within about a year, while conventional plastic remained largely unchanged. Scientists discover a plastic-eating “Pac-Man” enzyme with a surprising secret.

Vast amounts of discarded plastic accumulate in the oceans, sometimes forming enormous garbage patches that threaten marine life. Most conventional plastics break down extremely slowly because microorganisms struggle to digest the synthetic polymers from which they are made. Instead of disappearing, these materials gradually fragment into increasingly smaller particles, including microplastics and nanoplastics.

Yet plastic waste is not completely beyond the reach of nature. Bacteria and other microorganisms can colonize its surfaces, forming communities known as biofilms. These communities create a distinctive microbial ecosystem that scientists call the "plastisphere." Researchers at the University of Konstanz have now discovered an unusual enzyme that could reveal how some bacteria are becoming better equipped to break down certain types of plastic.