Evaluación de las enzimas involucradas en la biodegradación de plásticos de un solo uso por un consorcio microbiano

Abstract

CONDITION FOR PUBLICATION OF PROJECT. The environmental impact caused by single-use plastics represents a critical issue due to their persistence and accumulation in ecosystems. This project aims to analyze proteomic pathways involved in the biodegradation of these polymers through a temporal approach, under the hypothesis that the differential expression of microbial proteins correlates with the structural transformation of the material. The research is justified by the need to elucidate the enzymatic mechanisms that are essential for the design of sustainable strategies. The study employed previously obtained data on mass loss and Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), complemented with protein analysis from polyacrylamide gels. The results showed significantly higher degradation in plastics inoculated with the microbial consortium, along with modifications in C–O, C=O, and CH2 bonds, as well as the detection of key enzymes (amylases, peroxidases, esterases, and lipases) associated with biodegradation processes. In conclusion, these analyses establish a robust correlation between enzymatic expression and the chemical transformation of the polymer, validating the existence of functional biomarkers of biodegradation. Keywords: proteomics, biomarkers, FTIR, chemical transformation