What synthetic polymer has been shown to be breakable by Galleria mellonella larvae enzymes?
Answer
Polyethylene (PE)
The larvae of *Galleria mellonella* possess a specialized metabolic toolkit that allows them to digest beeswax, which is chemically complex, consisting largely of esters, fatty acids, and alcohols. This advanced biochemical machinery, developed to process tough organic materials found in the comb, unexpectedly demonstrated the capacity to degrade synthetic polymers. Specifically, studies revealed that these larvae possess enzymes capable of breaking down polyethylene, commonly abbreviated as PE. This ability suggests a profound evolutionary flexibility in their digestive systems, linking their natural adaptation to complex hydrocarbons in beeswax with a capacity to process long-chain fatty acids and synthetic materials.
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