CYP153A from Marinobacter aquaeolei has been identified as a fatty acid ω-hydroxylase with a broad substrate range. Two hotspots predicted to influence substrate specificity and selectivity were exchanged. Mutant G307A is 2- to 20-fold more active towards fatty acids than the wild-type. Residue L354 is determinant for the enzyme ω-regioselectivity.

A bacterial P450 monooxygenase-based whole cell biocatalyst using Escherichia coli has been applied in the production of ω-hydroxy dodecanoic acid from dodecanoic acid (C12-FA) or the corresponding methyl ester. We have constructed and purified a chimeric protein where the fusion of the monooxygenase CYP153A from Marinobacter aquaeloei to the reductase domain of P450 BM3 from Bacillus megaterium ensures optimal protein expression and efficient electron coupling. The chimera was demonstrated to be functional and three times more efficient than other sets of redox components evaluated. The established fusion protein (CYP153AM. aq.-CPR) was used for the hydroxylation of C12-FA in in vivo studies. These experiments yielded 1.2 g l–1 ω-hydroxy dodecanoic from 10 g l–1 C12-FA with high regioselectivity (> 95%) for the terminal position. As a second strategy, we utilized C12-FA methyl ester as substrate in a two-phase system (5:1 aqueous/organic phase) configuration to overcome low substrate solubility and product toxicity by continuous extraction. The biocatalytic system was further improved with the coexpression of an additional outer membrane transport system (AlkL) to increase the substrate transfer into the cell, resulting in the production of 4 g l–1 ω-hydroxy dodecanoic acid. We further summarized the most important aspects of the whole-cell process and thereupon discuss the limits of the applied oxygenation reactions referring to hydrogen peroxide, acetate and P450 concentrations that impact the efficiency of the production host negatively.

The oxofunctionalization of saturated hydrocarbons is an important goal in basic and applied chemistry. Biocatalysts like cytochrome P450 enzymes can introduce oxygen into a wide variety of molecules in a very selective manner, which can be used for the synthesis of fine and bulk chemicals. Cytochrome P450 enzymes from the CYP153A subfamily have been described as alkane hydroxylases with high terminal regioselectivity. Here we report the product yields resulting from C(5)-C(12) alkane and alcohol oxidation catalyzed by CYP153A enzymes from Mycobacterium marinum (CYP153A16) and Polaromonas sp. (CYP153A P. sp.). For all reactions, byproduct formation is described in detail. Following cloning and expression in Escherichia coli, the activity of the purified monooxygenases was reconstituted with putidaredoxin (CamA) and putidaredoxin reductase (CamB). Although both enzyme systems yielded primary alcohols and α,ω-alkanediols, each one displayed a different oxidation pattern towards alkanes. For CYP153A P. sp. a predominant ω-hydroxylation activity was observed, while CYP153A16 possessed the ability to catalyze both ω-hydroxylation and α,ω-dihydroxylation reactions.

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A two-phase biotransformation process for selective hydroxylation of n-octane to 1-octanol via Pseudomonas putida KT2440 harboring heterologously expressed P450 monooxygenase from Mycobacterium marinum is presented. Maximum cell-specific conversion rates of 12.7 mg octanol g CDW h -1 were observed not only in shaking flasks but also in 3.7-L-bioreactor studies.The bioreactor experiments were performed avoiding explosive gas mixtures by lowering volumetric power input, aeration rates and substrate concentrations. Based on a stoichiometric network of P. putida KT2440 topological studies were carried out. As a conclusion, potential limitations of NAD(P)H and/or ATP supply at production conditions can be excluded. Hence, the great potential of the host for further increasing conversion is outlined.