Determination of manganese peroxidase enzymatic activity in microorganisms present in the soil of the páramo of El Ángel Ecological Reserve to evaluate their potential as polyethylene biodegraders

This project addresses the growing problem of plastic pollution, particularly from polyethylene (PE), by exploring biological solutions. The primary goal is to evaluate the potential of microorganisms isolated from páramo soils (ranging from 3600 to 4200 masl in the El Ángel Ecological Reserve, Ecuador) for polymer biodegradation. The methodology involves isolating microorganisms (bacteria, actinomycetes, and fungi) using culture media such as TSA and Sabouraud Agar. Subsequently, the activity of the enzyme manganese peroxidase (MnP) will be quantified in the enzymatic extracts using the Glenn and Gold (1983) method, which involves reaction with sodium lactate, MnSO4, and hydrogen peroxide (H2O2). Finally, the biodegradation potential of the selected microorganisms will be tested by incubating low-density polyethylene (LDPE) beads with the microbial consortia for approximately two months. This research seeks to identify biological agents capable of degrading persistent plastics.<br/><br/><b>Goal</b>: <br/>To determine the enzymatic activity of manganese peroxidase in microorganisms present in páramo soil to evaluate their potential as plastic biodegraders.<br/><br/><b>Research lines</b>: <br/>Biodiversity and genetic resources