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Updated: May 1, 2026

Monitoring the Reductive and Oxidative Half-Reactions of a Flavin-Dependent Monooxygenase using Stopped-Flow Spectrophotometry
Published on: March 18, 2012
Fontimonas thermophila Alkane Monooxygenase (FtAlkB) Is an Alkyl Fluoride Dehalogenase
Lauren Hendricks1, Clorice R Reinhardt2, Tierani Green1
1Department of Chemistry, Barnard College of Columbia University, 3009 Broadway, New York, New York 10027, United States.
Abstract:
Purified alkane monooxygenase (AlkB) from Fontimonas thermophila (FtAlkB) catalyzes the defluorination of 1-fluorooctane, producing octanal, which is partially reduced under the reaction conditions to generate 1-octanol. This reaction occurs preferentially at the monofluorinated methyl group, with only a minor amount of oxidation at the nonfluorinated end of the molecule. The dehalogenation chemistry is specific to 1-fluorooctane, as neither 1-chlorooctane or 1-bromooctane are dehalogenated to an appreciable extent. Furthermore, P. putida cells containing the structurally related AlkB (PpAlkB) along with the full set of genes required for alkane metabolism, utilize 1-fluorooctane as their sole source of carbon with growth rates comparable to those for cells grown with octane.
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