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Updated: Mar 24, 2026
Development of Heterogeneous Enantioselective Catalysts using Chiral Metal-Organic Frameworks MOFs
Published on: January 17, 2020
Mixed regiospecificity compromises alkene synthesis by a cytochrome P450 peroxygenase from Methylobacterium populi
Jose A Amaya1, Cooper D Rutland1, Thomas M Makris1
1University of South Carolina, Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, 631 Sumter Street, Columbia, SC 29208, United States.
Abstract:
Intensive interest has focused on enzymes that are capable of synthesizing hydrocarbons, alkenes and alkanes, for sustainable fuel production. A recently described cytochrome P450 (OleTJE) from the CYP152 family catalyzes an unusual carbon-carbon scission reaction, transforming Cn fatty acids to Cn-1 1-alkenes. Here, we show that a second CYP152, CYP-MP from Methylobacterium populi ATCC BAA 705, also catalyzes oxidative substrate decarboxylation. Alkene production is accompanied with the production of fatty alcohol products, underscoring the mechanistic similarity of the decarboxylation reaction with canonical P450 monooxygenation chemistry. The branchpoint of these two chemistries, and regiospecificity of oxidation products, is strongly chain length dependent, suggesting an importance of substrate coordination for regulating alkene production.
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