The group led by Sebastian Rodriguez, from the university’s Center for Biotechnology and Bioengineering, identified and studied the behavior of a bacterial enzyme designated as PETS26b.

One of the most significant findings—which could help solve a serious problem currently facing many places—is the microorganism’s ability to degrade polyethylene terephthalate (PET), a material found in items such as bottles, containers, and textile fibers.

According to Terram, the study was published in the journal *Protein Science* and began with 27 candidate enzymes found in one of the planet’s most extreme environments: the Atacama Desert.

Rodriguez noted that tests confirmed PETS26b can break down PET and related derivatives; however, he emphasized that this does not mean a method is already available to eliminate plastic bottles on a large-scale basis.

He pointed out that the experiment provides a key piece of information that could foster future global initiatives in environmental biotechnology and the circular economy.

The Chilean scientist highlighted another interesting fact: the enzyme almost certainly did not evolve specifically to consume PET, as the plastic is a very recent addition compared to the long-term evolutionary changes undergone by microorganisms.

Most likely, he emphasized, it originally played a role in degrading plant biomass and possessed a secondary ability to act upon plastic.

This opens the door to exploring new biotechnological applications for enzymes that originally served different functions but possess other, previously unknown characteristics.

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