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Applied and Environmental Microbiology, November 2005, p. 7548-7550, Vol. 71, No. 11
0099-2240/05/$08.00+0     doi:10.1128/AEM.71.11.7548-7550.2005
Copyright © 2005, American Society for Microbiology. All Rights Reserved.

SHORT REPORT

Cutinase-Like Enzyme from the Yeast Cryptococcus sp. Strain S-2 Hydrolyzes Polylactic Acid and Other Biodegradable Plastics

Kazuo Masaki,^* Numbi Ramudu Kamini, Hiroko Ikeda, and Haruyuki Iefuji

Environmental Research Division, National Research Institute of Brewing, 3-7-1 Kagamiyama, Higashi-Hiroshima 739-0046, Japan

Received 7 March 2005/ Accepted 13 June 2005

A purified lipase from the yeast Cryptococcus sp. strain S-2 exhibited remote homology to proteins belonging to the cutinase family rather than to lipases. This enzyme could effectively degrade the high-molecular-weight compound polylactic acid, as well as other biodegradable plastics, including polybutylene succinate, poly (-caprolactone), and poly(3-hydroxybutyrate).

Present address: Department of Biotechnology, Central Leather Research Institute, Adyar, Chennai 600 025, India.