PETase which converts PET into MHET, which is then transported inside I. sakaiensis and hydrolyzed by MHETase to terephthalic acid (TPA) and ethylene glycol (EG). Under anaerobic conditions, we propose that EG is first dehydrated to acetaldehyde by ethanolamine ammonia lyase (EAL) and then disproportionated by alcohol dehydrogenase (ADH) and aldehyde dehydrogenase (ALDH) to ethanol and acetyl-CoA, respectively. The latter is further converted into acetate by phosphate acetyl transferase (PTA) and acetate kinase (ACK) coupled to ATP formation by substrate-level phosphorylation. Both, acetate and ethanol are transported outside of the cell. Ethanol can reenter the cell and be converted further into acetate .