Microbial decomposition of biodegradable plastics on the deep-sea floor

Taku Omura, Noriyuki Isobe, Takamasa Miura, Shun’ichi Ishii, Mihoko Mori, Yoshiyuki Ishitani, Satoshi Kimura, Kohei Hidaka, Katsuya Komiyama, Miwa Suzuki, Ken-ichi Kasuya, Hidetaka Nomaki, Ryota Nakajima, Masashi Tsuchiya, Shinsuke Kawagucci, Hiroyuki Mori, Atsuyoshi Nakayama, Masao Kunioka, Kei Kamino and Tadahisa Iwata ()
Additional contact information
Taku Omura: The University of Tokyo
Noriyuki Isobe: Research Institute for Marine Resources Utilization, Japan Agency for Marine-Earth Science and Technology (JAMSTEC)
Takamasa Miura: Biological Resource Center, National Institute of Technology and Evaluation (NBRC)
Shun’ichi Ishii: Institute for Extra-cutting-edge Science and Technology Avant-garde Research (X-STAR), Japan Agency for Marine-Earth Science and Technology (JAMSTEC)
Mihoko Mori: Biological Resource Center, National Institute of Technology and Evaluation (NBRC)
Yoshiyuki Ishitani: Institute for Extra-cutting-edge Science and Technology Avant-garde Research (X-STAR), Japan Agency for Marine-Earth Science and Technology (JAMSTEC)
Satoshi Kimura: The University of Tokyo
Kohei Hidaka: Biological Resource Center, National Institute of Technology and Evaluation (NBRC)
Katsuya Komiyama: The University of Tokyo
Miwa Suzuki: Gunma University Center for Food Science and Wellness (GUCFW)
Ken-ichi Kasuya: Gunma University Center for Food Science and Wellness (GUCFW)
Hidetaka Nomaki: Institute for Extra-cutting-edge Science and Technology Avant-garde Research (X-STAR), Japan Agency for Marine-Earth Science and Technology (JAMSTEC)
Ryota Nakajima: Research Institute for Global Change (RIGC), Japan Agency for Marine-Earth Science and Technology (JAMSTEC)
Masashi Tsuchiya: Research Institute for Global Change (RIGC), Japan Agency for Marine-Earth Science and Technology (JAMSTEC)
Shinsuke Kawagucci: Research Institute for Global Change (RIGC), Japan Agency for Marine-Earth Science and Technology (JAMSTEC)
Hiroyuki Mori: Japan BioPlastics Association (JBPA), 5-11 Nihonbashi Hakozaki-cho, Chuo-ku
Atsuyoshi Nakayama: Biomedical Research Institute, National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology (AIST), 1-8-31 Midorigaoka, Ikeda
Masao Kunioka: Standardization Promotion Office, National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology (AIST)
Kei Kamino: Biological Resource Center, National Institute of Technology and Evaluation (NBRC)
Tadahisa Iwata: The University of Tokyo

Nature Communications, 2024, vol. 15, issue 1, 1-17

Abstract: Abstract Microbes can decompose biodegradable plastics on land, rivers and seashore. However, it is unclear whether deep-sea microbes can degrade biodegradable plastics in the extreme environmental conditions of the seafloor. Here, we report microbial decomposition of representative biodegradable plastics (polyhydroxyalkanoates, biodegradable polyesters, and polysaccharide esters) at diverse deep-sea floor locations ranging in depth from 757 to 5552 m. The degradation of samples was evaluated in terms of weight loss, reduction in material thickness, and surface morphological changes. Poly(l-lactic acid) did not degrade at either shore or deep-sea sites, while other biodegradable polyesters, polyhydroxyalkanoates, and polysaccharide esters were degraded. The rate of degradation slowed with water depth. We analysed the plastic-associated microbial communities by 16S rRNA gene amplicon sequencing and metagenomics. Several dominant microorganisms carried genes potentially encoding plastic-degrading enzymes such as polyhydroxyalkanoate depolymerases and cutinases/polyesterases. Analysis of available metagenomic datasets indicated that these microorganisms are present in other deep-sea locations. Our results confirm that biodegradable plastics can be degraded by the action of microorganisms on the deep-sea floor, although with much less efficiency than in coastal settings.

Date: 2024
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DOI: 10.1038/s41467-023-44368-8

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