The PET (polyethylene terephthalate)-alternative PDCA (pyridinedicarboxylic acid) is biodegradable and has superior physical properties, according to a recent study. A Kobe University team of bioengineers engineered E. coli bacteria to produce the compound from glucose at unprecedented levels and without byproducts—and opened up a realm of possibilities for the future of bioengineering. The findings are published in the journal Metabolic Engineering.
Engineered E. coli produce biodegradable plastic that outperforms widely used PET
