(Helmholtz-Zentrum Berlin für Materialien und Energie) A research team from the University of Greifswald and Helmholtz-Zentrum-Berlin (HZB) has solved the molecular structure of the enzyme MHETase at BESSY II. MHETase was discovered in bacteria and together with a second enzyme — PETase — is able to break down the widely used plastic PET into its basic building blocks. This 3D structure already allowed the researchers to produce a MHETase variant with optimized activity in order to use it, together with PETase, for a sustainable recycling of PET.

Original source: https://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2019-04/hbfm-sf040919.php