Degradation of Poly(L-lactide) by a Fungus

Fungal degradation of poly(L-lactide) (PLA) was studied using Tritirachium album ATCC 22563. In liquid culture using basal medium and PLA film, no film degradation was observed. However, by the addition of 0.1% gelatin, about 76% of the PLA film was degraded after 14 days of cultivation at 30°C. Furthermore, the culture filtrate showed degradation activity against PLA, silk fibroin and elastin, but not against poly(β-hydroxybutyrate), poly(butylene succinate) and poly(ε-caprolactone). The PLA-degrading enzyme produced is likely to be protease rather than lipase or poly(β-hydroxybutyrate)-depolymerase.