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Related Concept Videos

Overview of Fatty Acid Metabolism01:28

Overview of Fatty Acid Metabolism

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Lipids also are sources of energy that power cellular processes. Like carbohydrates, lipids are composed of carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen, but these atoms are arranged differently. Most lipids are nonpolar and hydrophobic. Major types include fats and oils, waxes, phospholipids, and steroids.
Fatty acids are catabolized in a process called beta-oxidation, which takes place in the matrix of the mitochondria and converts their fatty acid chains into two-carbon units of acetyl groups. The acetyl...
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Carboxylic Acids to Esters: Acid-Catalyzed (Fischer) Esterification Mechanism01:13

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Carboxylic acids react with alcohols to yield esters via an acid-catalyzed condensation reaction called Fischer esterification. This is a nucleophilic acyl substitution reaction that proceeds via a tetrahedral intermediate, where a water molecule is eliminated as the leaving group.
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Carboxylic Acids to Esters: Acid-Catalyzed (Fischer) Esterification Overview01:20

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The Fischer esterification reaction was developed by the German chemist Emil Fischer in 1895. It is a condensation reaction between carboxylic acids and alcohols in an acidic medium to give esters and water.
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Loss of Carboxy Group as CO2: Decarboxylation of β-Ketoacids01:02

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Carboxylic acids, upon heating, undergo a decarboxylation reaction by releasing carbon dioxide gas. Monocarboxylic acids do not undergo decarboxylation easily. However, a silver salt of carboxylic acid reacts with bromine or iodine under high temperature to release carbon dioxide gas and forms halide with one less carbon. This reaction is called the Hunsdiecker reaction.
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Loss of Carboxy Group as CO2: Decarboxylation of Malonic Acid Derivatives01:35

Loss of Carboxy Group as CO2: Decarboxylation of Malonic Acid Derivatives

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Just like β-keto acids—which upon thermal decarboxylation form ketones—β-dicarboxylic acids undergo decarboxylation to generate monocarboxylic acids with the liberation of carbon dioxide.
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Esters to Carboxylic Acids: Acid-Catalyzed Hydrolysis01:13

Esters to Carboxylic Acids: Acid-Catalyzed Hydrolysis

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Hydrolysis of esters under acidic conditions proceeds through a nucleophilic acyl substitution. In the presence of excess water, the reaction proceeds in a reversible manner, forming carboxylic acids and alcohols.
During hydrolysis, the ester is first activated towards nucleophilic attack through the protonation of the carboxyl oxygen atom by the acid catalyst. The protonation makes the ester carbonyl carbon more electrophilic. In the next step, water acts as a nucleophile and adds to the...
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Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jul 11, 2025

Light-driven Enzymatic Decarboxylation
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P450 fatty acid decarboxylase.

Yuanyuan Jiang1, Shengying Li1

  • 1State Key Laboratory of Microbial Technology, Shandong University, Qingdao, Shandong, P.R. China.

Methods in Enzymology
|November 17, 2023
PubMed
Summary

P450 fatty acid decarboxylases convert free fatty acids into valuable alpha-olefins using hydrogen peroxide. This review covers their discovery, engineering, and applications in biofuels and chemical synthesis.

Keywords:
BiofuelsCytochrome P450 enzymesP450 fatty acid decarboxylasesP450 peroxygenasesTerminal alkenes

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Expression, Purification, Crystallization, and Enzyme Assays of Fumarylacetoacetate Hydrolase Domain-Containing Proteins
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Area of Science:

  • Biocatalysis and Enzyme Engineering
  • Synthetic Biology
  • Green Chemistry

Background:

  • Cytochrome P450 enzymes, specifically fatty acid decarboxylases (P450s), catalyze the conversion of free fatty acids into alpha-olefins.
  • Alpha-olefins are crucial building blocks for drop-in biofuels and chemical precursors, offering sustainable alternatives.
  • Hydrogen peroxide serves as the sole cofactor for this decarboxylation reaction, simplifying the catalytic system.

Approach:

  • Review of diverse methodologies for the discovery and characterization of P450 fatty acid decarboxylases.
  • Exploration of structural data to elucidate the unique mechanisms of alkene production.
  • Discussion of various protein engineering strategies to enhance the efficiency of these P450 enzymes.

Key Points:

  • Structural insights are crucial for understanding the P450-mediated alkene production mechanism and exploring novel enzymatic activities.
  • Engineering strategies are vital for developing efficient olefin-producing systems based on P450 fatty acid decarboxylases.
  • Applications include integration into enzyme cascades and metabolic engineering for sustainable chemical synthesis.

Conclusions:

  • P450 fatty acid decarboxylases represent a promising biocatalytic platform for sustainable production of alpha-olefins.
  • Continued research in enzyme discovery, structural biology, and protein engineering will unlock further potential for industrial applications.
  • The use of hydrogen peroxide as a cofactor highlights the potential for environmentally friendly chemical transformations.