A defined three-isolate synthetic consortium, Z123, reconstructed from a polyethylene-degrading enrichment isolated from marine plastic debris. Z123 comprises Nitratireductor sp. Z-1 and two Gordonia isolates, Gordonia sp. Z-2 and Gordonia sp. Z-3. In 30-day biodegradation assays with pristine low-density polyethylene, Z123 achieved 9.98% polymer weight loss and 50.88% molecular-weight reduction. Integrated genomic and proteomic data suggested a division of labor across oxidative activation, chain scission, and downstream metabolism, while GC-MS detected extracellular LDPE-associated products consistent with oxidative polymer modification.
Taxonomy
| Taxon | Ontology ID | Functional Roles | Abundance |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nitratireductor sp. Z-1 — ontology label: Nitratireductor | NCBITaxon:245876 · TaxonMech · TraitMech | N/A | |
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| Gordonia sp. Z-2 — ontology label: Gordonia <high G+C Gram-positive bacteria> | NCBITaxon:2053 · TaxonMech · TraitMech | N/A | |
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| Gordonia sp. Z-3 — ontology label: Gordonia <high G+C Gram-positive bacteria> | NCBITaxon:2053 · TaxonMech · TraitMech | N/A | |
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Ecological Interactions
The graph shows only explicitly linked interaction participants. Community members without an asserted participant link are omitted; membership alone does not imply an interaction.
Z123 LDPE functional differentiation
PARTIAL - Integrated genomic and proteomic analyses suggest differentiation among the Z123 Nitratireductor and Gordonia members across oxidative activation, chain scission and downstream metabolism. This combines gene and protein evidence, but the accessible abstract does not establish strain-resolved substrate partitioning, intermember transfer or polymer-carbon assimilation/mineralization. The consortium-level weight and molecular-weight losses and recombinant MCO1/Lcp3 polymer-modification assays remain positive results; their missing graph endpoints require separate curation.
Biological Processes:
- alkane catabolic process (GO:0043448 · PathwayMech)
Evidence
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PMID:42641428 - PARTIAL (COMPUTATIONAL)"Integrated genomic and proteomic analyses suggested functional differentiation among consortium members involving oxidative activation, chain scission, and downstream metabolism."
Knowledge gaps & discussions (2)
KNOWLEDGE_GAP OPEN Which Z123 strain encodes and expresses the oxidative activation, chain scission, and downstream-metabolism steps in the consortium?
The abstract reports functional differentiation among consortium members and recombinant MCO1/Lcp3 LDPE activity, but the accessible cache does not assign individual enzymes or reaction steps to Nitratireductor sp. Z-1, Gordonia sp. Z-2, or Gordonia sp. Z-3.
Attaches to: ecological_interactions#Z123 LDPE functional differentiation
KNOWLEDGE_GAP OPEN Which measurements establish the proposed causal mechanism in this exact system?
Retain the reported 30-day 9.98% weight loss and 50.88% molecular-weight reduction as measured consortium outcomes, and the recombinant MCO1/Lcp3 LDPE-modification assays as separate enzyme-level evidence. GC-MS products are putative LDPE-associated compounds, not isotope-traced assimilation or mineralization. Combined enzymes exceeded corresponding individual half-dose treatments; this does not by itself establish full-dose-matched synergy, necessity in the living consortium or which strain supplied each enzyme. The existing strain-specific question stays open. Missing endpoint nodes await scoped Edison causal research and primary-source inspection; this sparse graph remains needs_research.
Attaches to: ecological_interactions#Z123 LDPE functional differentiation
External Resources
| Name | Repository | Resource ID |
|---|---|---|
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Primary publication - Z123 Nitratireductor-Gordonia LDPE SynCom
Water Research 2026 primary article describing the Nitratireductor and Gordonia Z123 synthetic consortium for pristine LDPE degradation. |
OTHER | PMID:42641428 |
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Environmental Factors
| Factor | Value | Unit |
|---|---|---|
| Pristine LDPE incubation time | 30 | days |
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Growth Media
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