Analysis of enriched microbial communities with capacity to grow in mineral medium with polyurethane coatings as the only carbon source

We use metagenomic approaches for deconvolution and analysis of polyurethanolytic microbial communities, in order to understand the underlying mechanisms in polyurethane biodegradation by microbial enriched communities. Among our objectives are to find relevant metabolic pathways and describe how the functional potential may contribute to explain the phenotype of the communities at laboratory conditions. We try to find enzymes that have been reported as possible catalytic elements relevant for polyurethane biodegradation (proteases, esterases and lipases, ureases and laccases among others with oxidative or hydrolytic activities). The use of metagenomic approximations allows us a more detailed analysis of the degradation potential present in enriched communities to degrade polyurethane, and at the same time lays the foundations for the development of environmentally friendly biotechnological processes in the treatment of polyurethane.