IsPETase represents a novel biocatalyst for poly (ethylene terephthalate) (PET) hydrolysis.

Poly (ethylene terephthalate) (PET) is one of the most widely used synthetic polyesters but also a main cause of plastic pollution. Since the chemical degradation of PET would be uneconomical and rather burdensome, considerable efforts have been devoted to exploring enzymatic processes for the disposal of PET waste. Many PET hydrolyzing enzymes have been consecutively reported in recent decades, some of which demonstrate excellent potential for industrial applications. This review sets out to summarize the investigation status of Is PETase, a cutinase-like enzyme from I. sakaiensis possessing ability to degrade the crystalline PET, and to gain further insight into the structure-function relationship of Is PETase. Benefiting from the continuing identification of novel cutinase-like proteins and growing availability of the engineered Is PETase, we may anticipate future developments in this type of enzyme would generate suitable biocatalyst for industrial use.