This application claims the benefit of European Patent Application EP21382643.1 filed on July 16, 2021.

Technical Field

The present application refers to the field of plastic degradation. In particular, it refers to a method for degrading polyolefins, such as polyethylene, by using unspecific peroxygenases.

Background Art

Plastics are ubiquitous in our society. They are the basic material for innumerable commodity products. Plastics are inexpensive, each is a highly engineered material with precise physical properties. They can be molded into virtually any desired shape through rotation, injection, extrusion, compression, blowing, or thermoforming. Their material properties are adjusted during and/or after synthesis to achieve the desired strength, permeability, porosity, opacity, and color.

Polyolefin plastics are particularly durable, due to their chemical and biological inertness, which is a result of their high molecular weight and hydrophobicity, and the absence of functional groups that are susceptible to attack by microbial enzymes, light, water, etc. The recalcitrance and impermeability of these plastics make them ideal for applications such as food packaging, sterile medical uses, and construction, among others, but also make them particularly long-lived when they are discarded. Various antioxidants and stabilizers, which are used to prolong the working life of plastics, slow environmental degradation of plastics waste even further. Consequently, the very properties that make polyolefin plastics so versatile for humans has also created an emerging threat to the environment. As one of the most recalcitrant plastics, polyolefin plastics and, in particular, polyethylene, make up a substantial portion of the world's plastic waste. Although a small portion of the plastic waste is recycled or disposed of by combustion, most of the waste is buried in landfills. Burning plastic waste is expensive and releases toxic gases, including dioxins and furans. Most plastic waste ends up in landfill sites or in the ocean, which leads to serious environmental problems. Generally speaking, natural degradation of plastic begins with photodegradation, which leads to thermooxidative degradation. Ultraviolet light from the sun provides the activation energy required to initiate the incorporation of oxygen atoms into the polymer. This causes the plastic to become brittle and to break into smaller and smaller pieces. At the same time, environmental microorganisms colonize the plastic surface and either convert the carbon in the polymer chains to carbon dioxide or incorporate it into biomolecules. However, this entire process is very slow, particularly in the case of polyolefins, for which it can take 50 or more years. This is not aided by the fact that the photodegradative effect is significantly decreased when the plastic becomes buried. The situation is even worst for plastic waste dumped in seawater due to the lower temperature and oxygen availability. The rate of hydrolysis of most polymers is insignificant in the ocean, which does not help degradation.

There is an urgent need to develop efficient methods to accelerate plastic degradation and, in particular, to degrade polyolefins, such as polyethylene.

Summary of Invention

The inventors have surprisingly found that short unspecific peroxygenases (UPOs) may catalyze significant alterations of the plastic structure. In particular, short UPOs catalyze oxyfunctionalization of the plastic structure, introducing oxygenated functional groups that render the plastic more amenable to further modifications. As shown in the examples below, this particular type of enzyme is able to alter the chemical structure of a highly recalcitrant plastic, namely, polyethylene. As a result, the degradation (or other further processing) of plastic and, more particularly, of recalcitrant polyolefins, may benefit from treatment of the plastic with a short unspecific peroxygenase (short UPO) enzyme.

Thus, a first aspect of the invention provides method for oxyfunctionalization of plastic, said method comprising the step of (i) contacting the plastic with a short unspecific peroxygenase enzyme (short UPO) in aqueous media and in the presence of peroxide and/or O2.

This first method could also be worded as a method to reduce recalcitrance of a plastic comprising the step of (i) contacting the plastic with a short unspecific peroxygenase enzyme (short UPO) in aqueous media and in the presence of peroxide and/or O2. Also, this method could be worded as a method to reduce the hydrophobicity of a plastic comprising the step of (i) contacting the plastic with a short unspecific peroxygenase enzyme (short UPO) in aqueous media and in the presence of peroxide and/or O2. The effect of the short UPO on the plastic may be measured by Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and, in particular, by attenuated total reflection-FTIR (ATR_FTIR). The examples below show the alterations on polyethylene structure after treatment with a short UPO as measured by FTIR. The results show that treatment with short UPO results in the emergence of a large signal in the 1705-1740 cm-1 region of the spectrum

(corresponding to carbonyl group) and several other signals in the region between 1400- 900 cm-1. Such a high degree of oxyfunctionalization is not found with related enzymes, such as long UPO or laccase. The high alteration in the 1400-900 cm-1 region is specific for treatment with short UPO. Moreover, the shape and location of the carbonyl peak is also very specific for treatment with short UPO. The carbonyl peak appears specifically in the region going from 1724 to 1740 cm-1, while its shape may indicate that there is more than one carbonyl group, which is also quite specific for short UPO enzymatic treatment. This degree of functionalization indicates that a high diversity of oxygen-containing functional groups may be introduced by short UPO in the polymer structure, increasing the amenability of the treated plastic to further modifications and consequently accelerating degradation or further processing.

A second aspect of the invention provides a method for degrading plastic, said method comprising the step of (i) contacting the plastic with a short unspecific peroxygenase enzyme (short UPO) in aqueous media and in the presence of a peroxide and/or O2. That is, the second aspect provides a method for degrading plastic comprising oxyfunctionalization of the plastic as defined in the first aspect.

As mentioned above, the contacting of the short UPO with the plastic substantially accelerates the degradation of said plastic. Thus this second aspect could also be envisioned as a method to accelerate plastic degradation, said method comprising the step of (i) contacting the plastic with a short unspecific peroxygenase enzyme (short UPO) in the presence of a peroxide and/or O2. The alterations enabled by the short UPO in the plastic structure are further useful for a range of applications. Notably, treatment with short UPO is useful in plastic revalorization processes by which plastic is generally depolymerized to yield useful intermediate products of lower molecular weight, such as dicarboxylic acids, or products that are useful as feedstocks for microbial production of chemicals with high value. Also, biological recycling of plastic may also benefit from the oxyfunctionalization achieved by treatment with a short UPO.

Thus, a third aspect of the invention refers to a method for depolymerization, valorization, or recycling, of plastic, said method comprising oxyfunctionalization of the plastic as defined in the first aspect of the invention.

A fourth aspect of the invention refers to a plastic obtained by a method as defined in the first aspect. Said plastic obtained by the method of the first aspect is an oxyfunctionalized plastic, i.e. a plastic that contains a higher degree of oxygen-containing functional groups as compared to the substrate plastic.

A fifth aspect provides for the use of a short UPO in plastic oxyfunctionalization, in reducing recalcitrance of plastic, in reducing plastic hydrophobicity, in plastic degradation, in accelerating plastic degradation, in valorization of plastic, in plastic depolymerization, or in recycling of plastic.

Finally, a sixth aspect of the invention provides an aqueous composition comprising plastic and a short UPO.

The degradation, depolymerization, valorization or recycling process for any plastic may benefit from treatment with short UPO. However, as mentioned above, it is for polyolefins where the present invention shows the greater benefit, since the need of novel methods to reduce the recalcitrance of these type of plastics is particularly urgent (and also harder to achieve). Therefore, while all aspects of the present invention are referred to any plastic, they are particularly contemplated for polyolefins, such as polyethylene.

Brief Description of Drawings FIG 1. Conserved amino acid residues in the active site of short UPO from Marasmius rotula (MroUPO, UP03).

FIG 2. Enzymatic modification of LDPE by short UPO from Marasmius rotula (UP03) vs Control.

FIG 3. Enzymatic modification of LDPE by short UPO from Marasmius rotula (UP03) vs long UPO from Agrocybe aegerita (UP01).

FIG 4. Enzymatic modification of LDPE by short UPO from Marasmius rotula (UP03) vs Laccase. A, region 2000-800 cm-1. B, region 1400-900 cm-1.

FIG 5. Enzymatic modification of LDPE by short UPO from Marasmius rotula (UP03) vs Versatile Peroxidase FIG 6. Enzymatic modification of LDPE by short UPO from Marasmius rotula (UP03) vs thermo-oxidation.

Detailed description of the invention

All terms as used in this application, unless otherwise stated, shall be understood in their ordinary meaning as known in the art. Other more specific definitions for certain terms as used in the present application are as set forth below and are intended to apply uniformly through-out the specification and claims unless an otherwise expressly set out definition provides a broader definition.

As used herein, the indefinite articles “a” and “an” are synonymous with “at least one” or “one or more.” Unless indicated otherwise, definite articles used herein, such as “the” also include the plural of the noun.

As mentioned above, the invention is based in use of a short unspecific peroxygenase for degrading plastic, or for accelerating plastic degradation. It is hypothesized that the degree and variety of alterations in the plastic structure effected by the activity of the short UPO result in enhanced degradation of the plastic.

The term “oxyfunctionalization” refers to the insertion of oxygen-containing functional groups in a substrate chemical molecule. This is particularly difficult to achieve in highly recalcitrant and hydrophobic substrates such as polyolefins. Non-limiting oxygen- containing functional groups that may be introduced to the plastic, and in particular, to polyolefin plastic, according to the method of the invention are hydroxyl (ROH), carbonyl (RCOR') (aldehyde (RCHO), carboxyl (RCOOH), carboxylate (RCOO), ester (RCOOR'), peroxy (ROOR ¹ ), hydroperoxyl (ROOH), carbonate ester (ROCOOR ¹ ), ether (ROR ¹ ), acetal (RCH(OR')(OR")), hemiacetal (R2CH(OR1)(OH)), and epoxide. In particular, oxyfunctionalization in the sense of the present invention comprises the insertion of carbonyl groups in a substrate polyolefin, and more particularly, comprises the insertion of ester groups.

Unspecific peroxygenases (UPO, EC.1.11.2.1), also known as aromatic peroxygenases (APO), are newly discovered extracellular enzymes which belong to heme-thiolate proteins obtained from fungal species. Peroxygenases catalyze the insertion of an oxygen atom from H2O2 or other organic peroxide which acts as a source of oxygen, or O2 itself, in a wide variety of substrates. Based on their molecular mass and motif patterns, UPOs are classified into two categories: Group-I (short UPO sequences) with an average mass of 29 kDa and Group-I I (long UPO sequences) with an average mass of 44 kDa (Hofrichter et al. , 2015). The latter are almost exclusively found in ascomycetes and basidiomycetes, while the former are distributed among all fungal phyla. Characterized UPO from Marasmius rotula ( MroUPO ) belongs to the short UPO group, while the UPO from Agrocybe aegerita (AaeUPO) belongs to the long UPOs. It is to be noted that the size of the UPOs as referred above corresponds to monomeric molecular weight. For example, short UPOs are generally formed by two monomers (homodimer), with molecular weights of ~29 kDa per monomer.

Importantly, differences between short and long UPOs exist also in the catalytic sites. The heme access channel is where the majority of the differences between short and long UPOs arise. In short UPOs, the hydrophobic amino acids that conform the active site are aliphatic making a wider, yet shorter access channel when compared with long UPOs (whose active site is formed by aromatic residues). This disposition of the active site in short UPOs explains their strong preference for bulky substrates. Short UPOs have a conserved motif in the catalytic site: -POP- and -EHD-S-[E], a glutamic acid acting as the acid-base catalyst in the cleavage of H2O2 and histidine as charge stabilizer. Said motif is not found in long UPOs. For example, long UPOs of the AaeUPO contain the consensus - PCP-and EGD-R-E-. In the active site is also located the heme group (iron protoporphyrin IX), coordinated through a cysteine as proximal (5th) ligand (heme-thiolate) that with two proline residues form the POP motif, which places the thiolate (Cys-SH) towards the heme iron. When the enzyme is in the resting state, there is a water molecule (6th) as ligand in the distal heme position. This molecule of water is substituted by hydrogen peroxide (electron accepting co-substrate) at the beginning of the catalytic cycle. In the surrounding area of the heme group, there is a structural magnesium ion (Mg2+) coordinated through three carboxylates and an alcohol group from heme propionate -glutamate, aspartate, and serine. The main role of the magnesium ion is to stabilize the porphyrin system (figure 1). The activity of short UPOs may be assayed, for example, using colorimetric substrates, such as 2,6-dimethoxyphenol (see examples below for assay conditions). However, these colorimetric substrates may also be used to measure other oxidoreductase activities. A more specific assay to determine short UPO activity is the cleavage reaction of model corticosteroids described in Ullrich et al, 2018 (J. Inorg. Biochem. 183, 84-93).

In the sense of the present invention, the term “short UPO” encompasses any polypeptide that shows short UPO activity, such as MroUPO. This includes, variants of short UPOs that may be obtained by genetic manipulation, such as fusion proteins, UPOs containing non-relevant mutations, truncated proteins, fragments, etc. The short UPO may be a wild type protein or a recombinant protein. As will be apparent to the skilled person in view of the present description and the examples, in most embodiments the method of the invention may use partially or totally isolated short UPO. Short UPOs have been reported from various organisms, mostly from fungus (Hofrichter et al. , 2015, supra). Thus, in some embodiments of any aspect of the present invention, optionally in combination with any one of the embodiments provided below, the short UPO is from a fungus. Non-limiting fungal short UPOs include those from Basidiomycota, Ascomycota, Oomycota, Zygomycota, Chytridiomycota, and Glomeromycota. In particular embodiments of any aspect of the invention, optionally in combination with any one of the embodiments provided below, the short UPO is selected from Marasmius rotula, Marasmius wettsteinii, Chaetomium globosum, Daldinia caldariorum and Collariella virescens. and others disclosed in Hofrichter et al., 2015 (supra). In more particular embodiments, the short UPO is from a Basidiomycota fungus, for example, from Marasmius rotula or Marasmius wettsteinii.

The invention also contemplates using an organism that expresses short UPO. Non limiting organisms that express short UPO are those described above. When using an organism that expresses a short UPO, it may be convenient that the microorganism overexpresses a short UPO, and is preferably able to secrete said short UPO to the medium. The invention also contemplates using organisms which have been genetically modified to express, or overexpress, a short UPO.

In some embodiments of any aspect of the present invention, optionally in combination with any one of the embodiments provided below, the short UPO is a polypeptide showing short UPO activity.

In some embodiments of any aspect of the present invention, optionally in combination with any one of the embodiments provided below, the short UPO has a monomer size around 29 kDa, for example, ranging from 25 to 35 kDa, or from 27 to 33 kDa, for example, 28 kDa, 29 kDa, 30 kDa, 31 kDa, or 32 kDa. In particular embodiments, optionally in combination with any one of the embodiments provided below, the short UPO is a polypeptide showing unspecific peroxygenase activity having a monomer size between 25 to 35 kDa, or from 27 to 33 kDa, for example, 28 kDa, 29 kDa, 30 kDa, 31 kDa, or 32 kDa.

In other embodiments of any aspect of the present invention, optionally in combination with any one of the embodiments provided above or below, the catalytic site of the short UPO comprises the following conserved motif: POP and -EHD-S-[E]-. In particular embodiments, optionally in combination with any one of the embodiments provided below, the short UPO is a polypeptide showing unspecific peroxygenase activity and the following conserved motif in the catalytic site: PCP and -EHD-S-[E]-. In more particular embodiments, the catalytic site of the short UPO comprises a) the conserved motif PCP and -EHD-S-[E]-, and b) glutamic acid and histidine as acid-base pair. The skilled person would expect any enzyme containing the same catalytic site to have the same activity. Thus enzymes containing the short UPO conserved motif in the catalytic site are expected to have essentially the same oxyfunctionalization activity as, for example, Marasmius rotula.

A sequence motif is an amino-acid sequence pattern that is widespread and usually assumed to be related to biological function of the macromolecule. A conserved sequence motif, or simply, conserved motif, is a sequence motif that is identical, or highly similar, among proteins of different species, or within a genome. The catalytic site conserved motif mentioned above for short UPOs is the conserved motive shared among substantially all short UPOs from different organisms, particularly fungus.

In other embodiments of any aspect of the present invention, optionally in combination with any one of the embodiments provided above or below, the short UPO has a sequence similarity of at least 60%, with SEQ ID NO: 1. In particular, the short UPO has a sequence similarity of at least 70% with SEQ ID NO: 1. More particularly, the short UPO has a sequence similarity of at least 75%, 80%, 81%, 82%, 83%, 84%, 85%, 86%, 87%, 88%, 88.5%, 89%, 89.5%, 90%, 90.5%, 91%, 91.5%, 92%, 92.5%, 93%, 93.5%, 94%, 94.5%, 95%, 95.5%, 96%, 96.5%, 97%, 97.5%, 98%, 98.5%, 99%, or 99.5% with SEQ ID NO: 1.

In other embodiments of any aspect of the present invention, optionally in combination with any one of the embodiments provided above or below, the short UPO has a sequence identity of at least 40% with SEQ ID NO: 1. In particular, the short UPO has a sequence identity of at least 60% with SEQ ID NO: 1. More particularly, the short UPO has a sequence identity of at least 70% with SEQ ID NO: 1. Even more particularly, the short UPO has a sequence identity of at least 75%, 80%, 81%, 82%, 83%, 84%, 85%, 86%, 87%, 88%, 88.5%, 89%, 89.5%, 90%, 90.5%, 91%, 91.5%, 92%, 92.5%, 93%, 93.5%, 94%, 94.5%, 95%, 95.5%, 96%, 96.5%, 97%, 97.5%, 98%, 98.5%, 99%, or 99.5%, or 100% with SEQ ID NO: 1.

In the present invention the term "identity" refers to the percentage of residues that are identical in the two sequences when the sequences are optimally aligned. The percentage of identity determines the number of identical residues over a defined length in a given alignment. Thus, the level of identity between two sequences or ("percent sequence identity") is measured as a ratio of the number of identical positions shared by the sequences with respect to the number of positions compared (i.e. , percent sequence identity = (number of identical positions/total number of positions compared) x 100). A gap, i.e., a position in an alignment where a residue is present in one sequence but not in the other, is regarded as a position with non-identical residues and is counted as a compared position.

A number of mathematical algorithms for rapidly obtaining the optimal alignment and calculating identity between two or more sequences are known and incorporated into a number of available software programs. For example, the sequence identity between two amino acid sequences may be determined using algorithms based on global alignment, such as the Needleman-Wunsch algorithm (Needleman and Wunsch, 1970, J. Mol. Biol. 48: 443-453), such as those implemented in the Needle program of the EMBOSS package (EMBOSS: The European Molecular Biology Open Software Suite, Rice et al., 2000, Trends Genet. 16: 276-277); or the BLAST Global Alignment tool (Altschul et al., “Basic local alignment search tool”, 1990, J. Mol. Biol, v. 215, pages 403-410), using default settings. Local alignment also can be used when the sequences being compared are substantially the same length.

The term similarity allows for conservative substitutions of amino acid residues having similar physicochemical properties over a defined length of a given alignment

The term “plastic” refers to synthetic or semi-synthetic materials that use polymers as a main ingredient. Their plasticity makes it possible for plastics to be moulded, extruded or pressed into solid objects of various shapes. In some embodiments of any aspect of the present invention, optionally in combination with any one of the embodiments provided above or below, the plastic is polyester, polyurethane, polyolefin, polyvinyl chloride, polyamide, polystyrene, and any combination thereof. Polyester may include polybutylene succinate (PBS), polybutyl succinate adipate (PBSA), polylactic acid (PLA), aliphatic polyester, polyhydroxyalcanoate, polycaprolactone, and any combination thereof. In some embodiments of any aspect of the present invention, optionally in combination with any one of the embodiments provided above or below, the plastic is a polyolefin, for example, selected from the group consisting of polyethylene, polypropylene, polymethylpentene, polybutene-1, ethylene-octene copolymers, stereo-block polypropylene (PP), olefin block copolymers, propylene-butane copolymers, polyolefin elastomers, polyisobutylene, poly(alpha-olefin)s, ethylene propylene rubber, ethylene propylene diene monomer (M- class) rubber, and any combination thereof. In particular embodiments of any aspect of the present invention, optionally in combination with any one of the embodiments provided above or below, the plastic is polyethylene, for example selected from the group consisting of linear low density polyethylene (LLDPE), high density polyethylene (HDPE), low density polyethylene (LDPE), ultra high molecular weight polyethylene (UHMWPE), medium density polyethylene (MDPE), ethylene vinyl acetate (EVA), ethylene butyl acrylate (EBA), and any combination thereof.

In some embodiments of any aspect of the present invention, optionally in combination with any one of the embodiments provided above or below, the plastic may take any form such as emulsion, solid pellet or a film.

A first aspect of the invention is directed to a method for oxyfunctionalization of plastic, said method comprising the step of (i) contacting the plastic with a short unspecific peroxygenase enzyme (short UPO) in aqueous media and in the presence of peroxide and/or O2.

The conditions for the contacting step in the first aspect of the invention are optimized for short UPO activity.

Presence of an oxygen donor is required for peroxygenase activity. The term "oxygen donor", "oxidising agent" and "oxidant" relate to a substance, molecule or compound that donates oxygen to a substrate in an oxidation reaction. Typically, the oxygen donor is reduced (it accepts electrons). By way of example, non-limiting oxygen donors include molecular oxygen or dioxygen (O2) and peroxides. A "peroxide" is any compound other than molecular oxygen (O2) which has two oxygen atoms bonded to each other (ROOR’)·

The method of the first aspect of the invention thus requires presence of an oxygen donor which is generally a peroxide. Thus, in most embodiments of the first aspect of the invention, optionally in combination with any one of the embodiments provided above or below, the method proceeds in the presence of a peroxide. However, in some embodiments of the first aspect of the invention, optionally in combination with any one of the embodiments provided above or below, the oxyfunctionalization of the plastic may proceed with an oxygen donor that is not a peroxide, for example O2. The invention also contemplates combination of oxygen donors, such as a combination of more than one peroxide, or a combination of peroxide and O2.

In one embodiment of the first aspect, optionally in combination with any one of the embodiments provided above or below, the concentration of peroxide ranges from 0.1 to 10 mM. In particular, the concentration of peroxide ranges from 0.5 to 10 mM, or from 1 to 10 mM, or from 2 to 9 mM, or from 3 to 8 mM, for example 4 mM, 5 mM, 6 mM, or 7 mM. The peroxide may be provided as direct reagent in the contacting step or may be indirectly provided, for example by combining UPOs with photo-, electro- and chemo-catalysis, as well as by using enzyme cascade reactions all of them aimed at controlling the gradual supply of H2O2 in situ (Hobisch et al., 2020; van Schie et al., 2020)

In one embodiment of the first aspect, optionally in combination with any one of the embodiments provided above or below, the peroxide is ROOR’, where R and R ^' are independently selected from H, (Ci-Cio)-alkyl or, (CrCio)-alcoxy, and (Ci-Cio)-aryl. The expression “(C _x -C _y )-alkyl” as used herein refers to a saturated branched, cyclic or linear hydrocarbon side chain with x to y carbon atoms. For example, “(C _x -C _y )-alkyl” may be (Ci- C4)-alkyl, which is preferably an unsubstituted group selected from methyl, ethyl, propyl, isopropyl, butyl, isobutyl, s-butyl, and t-butyl. The term “aryl” refers to a radical of one ring system with 1-3 rings, the rings being aromatic and being isolated or partially/totally fused and having 5-6 members, being each member independently selected from C, CH, N, NH, O, S where chemically possible, and the ring system being optionally substituted by one or more radicals independently selected from the group consisting of (Ci-Ce)alkyl, (Ci- C ₆ )alkoxy, nitro, cyano, and halogen. In one particular embodiment, the peroxide is R-O- O-R’, where R and R ^' are independently selected from H, (Ci-Cio)-alkyl, and (Ci-Cio)-aryl, wherein alkyl is linear or branched and aryl is phenyl or (Ci-Ce)-phenyl. In more particular embodiments, the peroxide is R-O-O-R’, wherein at least R or R’ are H (also called hydroperoxide or peroxol). In more particular embodiments, the peroxide is selected from the group consisting of H2O2, tert butyl hydroperoxide, paracetic acid, and cumene hydroperoxide. In more particular embodiments, the peroxide is hydrogen peroxide or tert butyl hydroperoxide, more preferably hydrogen peroxide.

The method of the first aspect of the invention comprises aqueous media. By “aqueous media” it is understood a medium that comprises water. In some embodiments of the first aspect, optionally in combination with any one of the embodiments provided above or below, the medium comprises at least 10%, or at least 20% or at least 30%, or at least 40%, or at least 50%, or at least 60%, or at least 70%, or at least 80% or at least 90%, or

100% water. In some embodiments, optionally in combination with any one of the embodiments provided above or below, the medium may comprise an organic phase, for example, acetonitrile, methanol, ethanol or acetone. Said organic phase may be in a concentration ranging from 0,5 to 50%, or from 0,5 to 20%, or from 0,5 to 10%, for example 1%, 2%, 3%, 4%, 5%, 6%, 7%, 8%, or 9%.

In another embodiment of the first aspect, optionally in combination with any one of the embodiments provided above or below, the pH at which the contacting step takes place ranges from 2 to 11 , or from 2 to 9, or from 2 to 8, or from 2 to 7, or from 3 to 7. In particular, the pH ranges from 4 to 6, which is the best pH range for the activity of the short UPO enzyme, for example the pH may be 4.3, 4.5, 4.8, 5, 5.2, 5.5, or 5.7.

In order to maintain a convenient pH, the method of the invention may take place in the presence of a buffer. In some embodiments of the first aspect, optionally in combination with any one of the embodiments provided above or below, the contacting step takes place in the presence of a buffer. In particular, the buffer is one that provides a pH ranging from 2 to 9, or from 2 to 8, or from 2 to 7 or from 3 to 7, or from 4 to 6, for example a buffer that maintains a pH of 4.3, 4.5, 4.8, 5, 5.2, 5.5, or 5.7. The buffer may be selected from the non-limiting group consisting of citric acid, phosphate, maleate, and combinations thereof. In a particular embodiment of the first aspect of the invention, optionally in combination with any one of the embodiments provided above or below, the contacting step is done in the presence of citrate. In another particular embodiment, the contacting step is done in the presence of phosphate/citrate buffer.

In some embodiments of the first aspect, optionally in combination with any one of the embodiments provided above or below, the temperature at which the contacting step takes place ranges from 10 to 70 °C, in particular from 20 to 50 °C, or from 20 to 40 °C, for example, 21 °C, 22 °C, 23 °C, 24 °C, 25 °C, 26 °C, 27 °C, 28 °C, 29 °C, 30 °C, 31 °C, 32 °C, 33 °C, 34 °C, 35 °C, 36 °C, 37 °C, 38 °C, 37 °C, 40 °C, 41 °C, 42 °C, 43 °C, 44 °C, 45

°C, 46 °C, 47 °C, 48 °C, or 49 °C. In particular embodiments the temperature is room temperature.

Determination of an effective amount of short UPO for achieving the desired oxyfunctionalization in plastic is within the knowledge of one skilled in the art. Higher amounts of short UPO used in the contacting step will achieve a higher degree of alteration in a given reaction time. In some embodiments of the first aspect, optionally in combination with any one of the embodiments provided above or below, the amount of short UPO in the contacting step may range from 0.01 to 100 mM, or from 0.1 to 50 pM, or from 0.5 to 25 pM, or from 0,5 to 15 pM, or from 1 to 10 pM, for example 2 pM, 3 pM, 4 pM, 5 pM, 6 pM, 7 pM, or 8 pM.

The time required to produce a desirable degree of functionalization may depend, as will be apparent to the skilled person, on the amount of short UPO used in the method, as well as the reaction time and the temperature. In some embodiments of the first aspect, optionally in combination with any one of the embodiments provided above or below, the contacting step takes place for a time ranging from 12 hours to three months, or from one day to three months, or from two days to two months, or from three days to one month, or from three days to three weeks, or from five days to three weeks, or from one week to two weeks.

If the method of the first aspect of the invention is performed using an organism that expresses a short UPO, the conditions may be conveniently optimized. For example, the pH and temperature for the contacting step may be adapted to those convenient for the growth and metabolic activity, in particular metabolic activity related to short UPO production, of the organism. Moreover, determination of an effective amount of organism to be used is within the knowledge of one skilled in the art. Other reagents may be added to the method of the first aspect of the invention in order to optimize the functionalization of the plastic.

It is also relevant that the carbonyl peak appears in the region from 1724 to 1740 cm-1 In some embodiments of the first aspect of the invention, optionally in combination with any one of the embodiments provided above or below, the plastic is a polyolefin, in particular, polyethylene. The oxyfunctionalization of the polyolefin may comprise the emergence of at least one peak in the region from 1705 to 1740 cm-1 in a ATR_FTIR spectrum and more than one peak in the region from 1400 to 900 cm-1 in a ATR_FTIR. In a particular embodiment of the first aspect of the invention, optionally in combination with any one of the embodiments provided above or below, the oxyfunctionalization comprises the emergence of at least one peak in the region from 1724 to 1740 cm-1 and more than one peak in the region from 1400 to 900 cm-1 in a ATR_FTIR. In particular embodiments of the first aspect of the invention, optionally in combination with any one of the embodiments provided above or below, the oxyfunctionalization comprises the emergence of at least one peak in the region from 1705 to 1740 cm-1 and at least two peaks, for example at least three, at least four, at least five, at least six, at least seven, at least eight, at least nine or at least ten peaks in the region from 1400 to 900 cm-1 in a ATR_FTIR. In particular embodiments of the first aspect of the invention, optionally in combination with any one of the embodiments provided above or below, the oxyfunctionalization comprises the emergence of at least one peak in the region from 1724 to 1740 cm-1 and at least two peaks, for example at least three, at least four, at least five, at least six, at least seven, at least eight, at least nine or at least ten peaks in the region from 1400 to 900 cm-1 in a ATR_FTIR. For example, the oxyfunctionalization comprises emergence of the following peaks in a ATR_FTIR spectrum: 1740 +/- 4 cm-1, 1724 +/- 4 cm-1, 1263.21 +/- 4 cm-1, 1229.50 +/- 4 cm-1, 1184.91 +/- 4 cm-1, 1133.02+/- 4 cm-1, 1100.82 +/- 4 cm-1, 1058.07

+/- 4 cm-1, 980.70 +/- 4 cm-1, and 894.71 +/- 4 cm-1. The oxyfunctionalization of the polyolefin as defined above results in a significant reduction of the recalcitrance of the polyolefin. In particular embodiments the substrate for the oxyfunctionalization as defined above is selected from polyethylene and polypropylene, in particular, polyethylene. The method of the first aspect of the invention may also benefit from adding a further enzyme. Thus, in some embodiments of the first aspect of the invention, optionally in combination with any one of the embodiments provided above or below, the method further comprises a step (ii) of contacting the plastic with another enzyme. Appropriate enzymes to be used in the method of the invention are ligninolytic oxidoreductase enzymes different from short UPO, such as a long UPO, a laccase, a manganese peroxidase and a versatile peroxidase. Thus, in some embodiments of the first aspect of the invention, optionally in combination with any one of the embodiments provided above or below, the enzyme in step (ii) is a ligninolytic oxidoreductase enzyme different from short UPO, for example, a long UPO, a laccase, a manganese peroxidase and a versatile peroxidase. The step (ii) of contacting the plastic with another enzyme may take place before, after or at the same time as step (i). The method according to the first aspect of the invention may comprise additional steps before and/or after step (i) of contacting the plastic with a short UPO. For example, when the plastic to be treated is plastic waste, sorting of the plastic may be required. Moreover, the overall efficiency of the method of the invention may benefit from conventional pretreatment processes. Sometimes, decontamination of the plastic waste by conventional methods may be convenient prior to contacting with the short UPO. Thus, in some embodiments of the first aspect of the invention, optionally in combination with any one of the embodiments provided above or below, the method comprises at least one step prior to step (i), said prior step selected from the group consisting of sorting, decontaminating, milling, chemical hydrolysis, irradiation, heating and treating with pro- oxidants, for example, metal ions such as iron, manganese, titanium or cobalt.

A second aspect of the invention refers to a method for degrading plastic, said method comprising oxyfunctionalization of the plastic as defined in the first aspect. All embodiments defined for the first aspect are also applicable to the second aspect.

In some embodiments of the second aspect of the invention, optionally in combination with any one of the embodiments provided above or below, the method comprises at least further step, for example, conventional disposal of the enzyme-treated plastic. Disposal of the plastic usually comprises dumping to soil or landfills, where it comes into contact with environmental microorganisms.

In some embodiments of the second aspect of the invention, the method further comprises hydrolysis of the plastic structure. In other embodiments, the method further comprises disintegrating the plastic structure into short chains of oligomers, dimers, and monomers. Said oligomers, dimers, and monomers may be subsequently used as source of carbon and energy to environmental microorganisms, for example, soil microorganisms. In another embodiment of the first aspect of the invention, the digested plastic is mineralized. In another embodiment of the second aspect of the invention, the method results in the end products carbon dioxide, water and/or methane.

The method of the second aspect of the invention is thus a method for the biodegradation of plastic, which is environmentally-friendly and economical. The lower molecular weight oligomers or monomers that constitute the intermediate products of plastic biodegradation could also be exploited by themselves as relevant metabolites for industrial processes. This is the case of dicarboxylic acids, for example. The intermediate products of plastic depolymerization can also be used for the biosynthesis of high-value chemicals through specific metabolic pathways. This is known as a way of valorizing plastic wastes. In all cases, this method can benefit from treatment with short UPO. Accordingly, a third aspect of the invention refers to a method for depolymerization, valorization, or recycling, of plastic comprising oxyfunctionalization of the plastic by the method of the first aspect. All embodiments defined for the first aspect are also applicable to the third aspect.

A fourth aspect of the invention refers to a plastic obtained by a method as defined in the first aspect. Said plastic obtained by the method of the first aspect is an oxyfunctionalized plastic, i.e. a plastic that contains a higher degree of oxygenated functional groups as compared to the substrate plastic.

In particular embodiments of the fourth aspect of the invention, the plastic is polyolefin and has at least one peak in the region from 1705 to 1740 cm-1 in an ATR_FTIR spectrum and more than one peak in the region from 1400 to 900 cm-1 in an ATR_FTIR. particular embodiments of the fourth aspect, the oxyfunctionalized polyolefin plastic has at least one peak in the region from 1724 to 1740 cm-1 and more than one peak in the region from 1400 to 900 cm-1 in a ATR_FTIR. In particular embodiments of the fourth aspect, the oxyfunctionalized polyolefin plastic has at least one peak in the region from 1705 to 1740 cm-1 and at least two peaks, for example at least three, at least four, at least five, at least six, at least seven, at least eight, at least nine or at least ten peaks in the region from 1400 to 900 cm-1 in a ATR_FTIR. In particular embodiments of the fourth aspect, the oxyfunctionalized polyolefin plastic has at least one peak in the region from 1724 to 1740 cm-1 and at least two peaks, for example at least three, at least four, at least five, at least six, at least seven, at least eight, at least nine or at least ten peaks in the region from 1400 to 900 cm-1 in a ATR_FTIR. For example, the oxyfunctionalized polyolefin comprises the following peaks in a ATR_FTIR spectrum: 1740 +/- 4 cm-1, 1724 +/- 4 cm- 1, 1263.21 +/- 4 cm-1, 1229.50 +/- 4 cm-1, 1184.91 +/- 4 cm-1, 1133.02+/- 4 cm-1,

1100.82 +/- 4 cm-1 , 1058.07 +/- 4 cm-1 , 980.70 +/- 4 cm-1 , and 894.71 +/- 4 cm-1. In particular embodiments of the fourth aspect of the invention, optionally in combination with any one of the embodiments provided above or below, the oxyfunctionalized polyolefin is oxyfunctionalized polyethylene or polypropylene, particularly polyethylene, and it has the peaks in the ATR_FTIR spectrum as described above.

A fifth aspect of the invention provides for the use of a short UPO in plastic oxyfunctionalization, in reducing recalcitrance of plastic, in reducing plastic hydrophobicity, in plastic degradation, in accelerating plastic degradation, in valorization of plastic, in plastic depolymerization or in recycling of plastic. In one embodiment of the fifth aspect, the short UPO is for use in combination with another enzyme. In a particular embodiment, the other enzyme may be a ligninolytic oxidoreductase enzyme different from short UPO, such as a long UPO, a laccase, a manganese peroxidase and a versatile peroxidase.

The sixth aspect of the invention provides an aqueous composition comprising plastic and a short UPO. In some embodiments of the sixth aspect, optionally in combination with any one of the embodiments provided above or below, the composition further comprises a buffer. In other embodiments of the sixth aspect of the invention, optionally in combination with any one of the embodiments provided above or below, the composition further comprises another enzyme. In some embodiments of the sixth aspect of the invention, optionally in combination with any one of the embodiments provided above or below, the composition has a pH ranging from 2 to 9. In other embodiments of the sixth aspect of the invention, optionally in combination with any one of the embodiments provided above or below, the composition further comprises a peroxide. In other embodiments of the sixth aspect of the invention, optionally in combination with any one of the embodiments provided above or below, the temperature of the composition ranges from 10 to 50 °C. All embodiments defined above for the first aspect referring to short UPO, the peroxide, the pH, the temperature, the buffer and the other enzyme also apply to the sixth aspect.

Throughout the description and claims the word "comprise" and variations of the word, are not intended to exclude other technical features, additives, components, or steps. Furthermore, the word “comprise” encompasses the case of “consisting of”. Additional objects, advantages and features of the invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art upon examination of the description or may be learned by practice of the invention. The following examples and drawings are provided by way of illustration, and they are not intended to be limiting of the present invention. Furthermore, the present invention covers all possible combinations of particular and preferred embodiments described herein. Examples

MATERIALS and METHODOLOGY

Reagents and enzymes

Low density Polyethylene (LDPE) pellets were produced by Repsol S.A. ABTS (2,2'-azino- bis(3-ethylbenzothiazolin-6-sulfonic) acid), DMP (2,6-dimetoxiphenol), and the Saccharomyces cerevisiae transformation kit were obtained from Sigma-Aldrich (Saint Louis, MO, USO). NBD (5-nitro-1,3-benzodioxole) was acquired from TCI America (Portland, OR, USA). The mut ⁺ strain X-33 strain was obtained from ThermoFisher ((ThermoFisherScientific, US). The construction for UP03 of M. rotula expression, including cDNA, signal peptide, and vector was performed as described in Pullmann et al. 2021.

Cloning, expression and purification of enzymes.

Cloning, expression and purification of short UPO from Marasmius rotula (UP03) were conducted according to the procedures described by Pullmann et al. 2021.

Cloning, expression and purification of long UPO from Agrocybe aegerita (UP01) were conducted according to the procedures described by Gomez de Santos et al. 2018. Cloning, expression and purification of laccase were conducted according to the procedures described by Gomez-Fernandez et al. 2020.

Cloning, expression and purification of versatile peroxidase were conducted according to the procedures described by Gonzalez-Perez et al. 2016.

Determination of the natural activity of enzymes

The residual activity of the enzymes was controlled through the measurement of their natural activity using colorimetric assays.

For the detection of UP03 activity, the 2,6-dimethoxyphenol (DMP) reaction mixture was composed of 100 mM pH 5.0 citrate phosphate buffer, 2 mM DMP, and 5 mM H2O2. The mix was briefly stirred and absorbance was measured at 469 nm following it in kinetic mode using a plate reader for such purpose (SPECTRAMax Plus 384, Molecular Devices, USA).

For the detection of UP01 activity, the ABTS reaction mixture was composed of 100 mM pH 4.0 citrate phosphate buffer, 0.2 mM ABTS and 2 mM H2O2. The mix was briefly stirred and absorbance was measured at 418 nm following it in kinetic mode using a plate reader for such purpose (SPECTRAMax Plus 384, Molecular Devices, USA).

For the detection of laccase activity, the ABTS reaction mixture was composed of 100 mM pH 4.0 citrate phosphate buffer and 1 mM ABTS. The mix was briefly stirred and absorbance was measured at 418 nm following it in kinetic mode using a plate reader for such purpose (SPECTRAMax Plus 384, Molecular Devices, USA).

For the detection of versatile peroxidase activity, the ABTS reaction mixture was composed of 100 mM pH 4.0 citrate phosphate buffer, 2 mM ABTS and 0.1 mM H2O2. The mix was briefly stirred and absorbance was measured at 418 nm following it in kinetic mode using a plate reader for such purpose (SPECTRAMax Plus 384, Molecular Devices, USA). Thermo-oxidation of LDPE (pellet)

Ground pellets of LDPE were placed in an oven at 96°C for three weeks. Pellets were daily mixed with a scraper and the level of oxidation was followed through weekly analysis of the LDPE using ATR- FT-IR.

Enzymatic modification of LDPE

13 mg of LDPE pellets and 3 mM of pure UP03 in 100 mM pH 5.0 citrate phosphate buffer and 5 mM H2C>2were charged in a 5 mL glass vial. The vials were placed in a roller (Movil- Rod, JPSELECTA, Spain) inside of a temperature chamber with a set temperature of 30°C. To keep the supply of H2O2 an aliquot of 25 pi at 200 mM of H2O2 was added 3 times per day. Every 48 hours the supernatant was extracted from the vials and replaced with a freshly new prepared reaction mixture. Reactions were kept for two weeks or four (see Results). The reaction conditions with UP01 were the same as for UP03 except for the reaction mixture which contained 3 mM of pure UP01 in 100 mM pH 7.0 potassium phosphate buffer and 2 mM H202, instead. The reaction conditions with laccase were the same as for UP03 except for the reaction mixture which contained 0.05 mM of pure laccase in 100 mM pH 4.5 citrate phosphate buffer and 1 mM of HBT, instead. The reaction conditions with versatile peroxidase were the same as for UP03 except for the reaction mixture which contained 0.05 pM of pure versatile peroxidase in 100 mM pH 5.0 malonate buffer, 0.1 mM of H2O2 _, and 1.2 mM of Mn ²⁺ , instead.

Negative controls of each enzyme reaction were prepared and the conditions and composition of their mixtures were the same as the ones described above but adding water instead of the enzyme.

Cleaning of LDPE samples LDPE samples were collected into 1.5 mL microtubes with nylon filter (0.45 pm)

(CORNING, USA). Samples were centrifuged at 12,000 rpm (RT) for 2 min, and the reaction mixture was discarded. SDS at 2% was added, tubes vortexed and centrifuged at 12,000 rpm (RT) for 2 min. The SDS was removed and new SDS 2% was added, tubes vortexed and then, incubated for 1 hour in a shaker at 30°C, 220 RPM. SDS was discarded and dH ₂ 0 water was added to the tubes. Samples were vortexed and centrifuged as aforementioned, two times. Then, cap-opened tubes were incubated in an oven at 60°C for 1 hour to get them dry.

Infrared analysis of LDPE

Changes in LDPE structure following incubation with enzymes were analyzed by ATR FT- IR (GladiATR, PIKE Technologies, USA). After establishing a blank, the FT-IR performs 128 scanners between 4000-600 cm ^-1 of the sample. Enzymatic oxidation of the LDPE was measured as the carbonyl index (Cl), defined as the ratio of the maximum absorbance in the carbonyl area to the reference bands of CH2 and CH ₃ which served as internal standard (i.e the ratio of the absorbance peak of carbonyl at region 1800-1700 cm ^-1 and CH2, CH ₃ stretching bands at 3000-2750 cm ^_1 ).

RESULTS

Oxidation of LDPE with unspecific peroxygenase vs other enzymes

Pure extracts of UP03, UP01, laccase, and versatile peroxidase were mixed with LDPE in the conditions described in the Materials and Methods section. After two weeks of treatment, the LDPE samples were isolated from the reaction mix and cleaned. The analysis by FT-IR of the LDPE treated with UP03 and laccase showed an increment of the Cl in comparison with negative control (0.0313 and 0.0294, respectively), Figure 2, 4. On the contrary, UP01 and versatile peroxidase did not render any measurable changes in the material surface, Figure 3, 5.

The modifications in the surface of the LDPE are different if the process is performed with UP03 or laccase. With laccase, only a clear peak at 1712 cm ^-1 is generated. When the employed enzyme is the UP03, the clearest signal corresponds to the peak at 1724 cm ^-1 but the shape of the peak makes evident that there is more than one carbonyl group. Furthermore, the region between 1400-900 cm ^-1 is highly altered (1281,77 cm ^-1 1263,21 cm ¹ 1229,50 crrr ¹ 1184,91 crrr ¹ 1133,02 crrr ¹ 1100,82 crrr ¹ 1058,07 crrr ¹ 980,70 crrr ¹ and 894,71 cm ¹ ) in comparison with the negative control or laccase treated LDPE, Figure 4.

Oxidation of LDPE with unspecific peroxygenase vs other techniques

A pure extract of UP03 was mixed with LDPE in the conditions described in the Materials and Methods section for four weeks. On the other side, LDPE samples were submitted to a process of thermo-oxidation as described in the Materials and Methods section. The LDPE samples were isolated, cleaned, and analyzed by FT-IR. The Cl calculated for the LDPE treated with the enzyme was 0.113, while the “thermo-oxidized” of the LDPE reached a value of 0.162. The thermo-oxidized material has no other changes in the IR compared with the native material. Conversely, the material treated with the UP03 exhibits new signals in the region between 1400-900 cm ¹ no present in the thermo- oxidized material, Figure 6.

Citation List

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Clauses For reasons of completeness, various aspects of the invention are set out in the following numbered clauses: 1. A method for oxyfunctionalization of plastic, said method comprising the step of (i) contacting the plastic with a short unspecific peroxygenase enzyme (short UPO) in aqueous media and in the presence of peroxide and/or O2.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the catalytic site of the short UPO comprises the following conserved motif: POP and -EHD-S-[E]-.

3. The method according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the short UPO has a sequence identity of at least 70% with SEQ ID NO: 1, or has a sequence identity of at least 90% with SEQ ID NO: 1.

4. The method according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the pH at which step (i) takes place ranges from 3 to 8, in particular from 4 to 6.

5. The method according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the concentration of peroxide ranges from 0.1 to 10 mM, in particular from 1 to 10 mM.

6. The method according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the peroxide is selected from the group consisting of H2O2, t-butyl peroxide, and cumene hydroperoxide. 7. The method according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the media comprises citrate.

8. The method according to any one of the preceding claims, said method further comprising a step (ii) of contacting the plastic with another Ligninolytic Oxidoreductase enzyme different from short UPO.

9. The method according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the plastic is a polyolefin, for example, polyethylene. 10. A method for degrading plastic, said method comprising oxyfunctionalization of the plastic as defined in any one of the preceding claims.

11. The method for degrading plastic according to claim 10, said method further comprising disposal of the oxyfunctionalized plastic, for example, in a landfill. 12. A method for depolymerizing and/or valorizing plastic, said method comprising oxyfunctionalization of the plastic by a method as defined in any one of claims 1-9. 13. An oxyfunctionalized plastic obtained by a method as defined in any one of claims 1-9.

14. The oxyfunctionalized plastic according to claim 13, wherein the substrate plastic is polyolefin and has at least one peak in the region from 1705 to 1740 cm-1 in an ATR_FTIR spectrum and more than one peak in the region from 1400 to 900 cm-1 in an ATR_FTIR.

15. Use of a short UPO in plastic oxyfunctionalization, in plastic degradation, in plastic depolymerization, or in plastic valorization.