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Updated: Jul 26, 2025

Light-driven Enzymatic Decarboxylation
Published on: May 22, 2016
Photoenzymatic Decarboxylation to Produce Hydrocarbon Fuels: A Critical Review
Yaqi Sui1, Xiaobo Guo2, Rui Zhou1
1School of Life Sciences, Chongqing University, Chongqing, 401331, China.
Abstract:
Photoenzymatic decarboxylation shows great promise as a pathway for the generation of hydrocarbon fuels. CvFAP, which is derived from Chlorella variabilis NC64A, is a photodecarboxylase capable of converting fatty acids into hydrocarbons. CvFAP is an example of coupling biocatalysis and photocatalysis to produce alkanes. The catalytic process is mild, and it does not yield toxic substances or excess by-products. However, the activity of CvFAP can be readily inhibited by several factors, and further enhancement is required to improve the enzyme yield and stability. In this article, we will examine the latest advancements in CvFAP research, with a particular focus on the enzyme's structural and catalytic mechanism, summarized some limitations in the application of CvFAP, and laboratory-level methods for enhancing enzyme activity and stability. This review can serve as a reference for future large-scale industrial production of hydrocarbon fuels.
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