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Updated: Dec 20, 2025

Light-driven Enzymatic Decarboxylation
Published on: May 22, 2016
Enhanced P450 fatty acid decarboxylase catalysis by glucose oxidase coupling and co-assembly for biofuel generation
Libo Zhang1, Olivia M Manley1, Dumei Ma2
1Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of South Carolina, 631 Sumter Street, Columbia, SC 29208, USA.
Abstract:
Cytochrome P450 OleT is a fatty acid decarboxylase that uses hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) to catalyze the production of terminal alkenes, which are industrially important chemicals with biofuel and synthetic applications. Despite its requirement for large turnover levels, high concentrations of H2O2 may cause heme group degradation, diminishing enzymatic activity and limiting broad application for synthesis. Here, we report an artificial enzyme cascade composed of glucose oxidase (GOx) and OleTSA from Staphylococcus aureus for efficient terminal alkene production. By adjusting the ratio of GOx to OleTSA, the GOx-based tandem catalysis shows significantly improved product yield compared to the H2O2 injection method. Moreover, the co-assembly of the GOx/OleTSA enzymes with a polymer, forming polymer-dual enzymes nanoparticles, displays improved activity compared to the free enzyme. This dual strategy provides a simple and efficient system to transform a naturally abundant feedstock to industrially important chemicals.
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