phaz
fuh-ZEE
Definition
A specific gene found in the marine worm Olavius algarvensis that encodes an enzyme capable of breaking down polyhydroxyalkanoate biopolymers.
Etymology
The name is a systematic designation following standard biological naming conventions for genes, where 'pha' refers to the polyhydroxyalkanoate (PHA) substrate and 'z' denotes a specific gene within that functional category.
In the news
The article uses phaZ to describe the genetic sequence responsible for the worm's ability to digest the bioplastic storage material produced by its symbiotic bacteria.
A marine worm with no mouth and no gut makes its own enzyme for digesting the bioplastic its skin bacteria build up, and the same kind of enzyme turned up in 66 more animal species across nine phyla, from a sponge to an earthworm to a springtail
Read the full article ↗ScienceBlog.com