Identification and characterization of a fungal cutinase-like enzyme CpCut1 from Cladosporium sp. P7 for polyurethane degradation

ABSTRACT Plastic degradation by biological systems emerges as a prospective avenue for addressing the pressing global concern of plastic waste accumulation. The intricate chemical compositions and diverse structural facets inherent to polyurethanes (PU) substantially increase the complexity associated with PU waste management. Despite the extensive research endeavors spanning over decades, most known enzymes exhibit a propensity for hydrolyzing waterborne PU dispersion (i.e., the commercial Impranil DLN-SD), with only a limited capacity for the degradation of bulky PU materials. Here, we report a novel cutinase (CpCut1) derived from Cladosporium sp. P7, which demonstrates remarkable efficiency in the degrading of various polyester-PU materials. After 12-h incubation at 55°C, CpCut1 was capable of degrading 40.5% and 20.6% of thermoplastic PU film and post-consumer foam, respectively, while achieving complete depolymerization of Impranil DLN-SD. Further analysis of the degradation intermediates suggested that the activity of CpCut1 primarily targeted the ester bonds within the PU soft segments. The versatile performance of CpCut1 against a spectrum of polyester-PU materials positions it as a promising candidate for the bio-recycling of waste plastics. IMPORTANCE Polyurethane (PU) has a complex chemical composition that frequently incorporates a variety of additives, which poses significant obstacles to biodegradability and recyclability. Recent advances have unveiled microbial degradation and enzymatic depolymerization as promising waste PU disposal strategies. In this study, we identified a gene encoding a cutinase from the PU-degrading fungus Cladosporium sp. P7, which allowed the expression, purification, and characterization of the recombinant enzyme CpCut1. Furthermore, this study identified the products derived from the CpCut1 catalyzed PU degradation and proposed its underlying mechanism. These findings highlight the potential of this newly discovered fungal cutinase as a remarkably efficient tool in the degradation of PU materials.