AI Summary
The researchers at the Indian Institute of Science have developed an enzymatic platform that can efficiently transform fatty acids into 1-alkenes, which are promising biofuels. This engineered whole cell biocatalyst has the potential to produce these hydrocarbons on a large scale, making them a sustainable option for blending with existing fuels. The addition of an enzyme called catalase to the reaction mix has helped overcome challenges, making the process more efficient. Hydrocarbons have various industrial applications, including in polymers, detergents, and lubricants.
Researchers at the Department of Inorganic and Physical Chemistry (IPC), Indian Institute of Science (IISc), have developed an enzymatic platform that can efficiently transform naturally abundant and inexpensive fatty acids to valuable hydrocarbons called 1-alkenes, which are promising biofuels.
Given the finite availability and polluting nature of fossil fuels, scientists are increasingly exploring sustainable fuel pathways that involve compounds called hydrocarbons. They show great potential as “drop-in” biofuels, which can be blended and used with existing fuels and infrastructure.
These hydrocarbons can potentially be synthesized on a large scale using microorganism “factories.” Enzymes that help mass-produce these hydrocarbons are therefore highly sought after. Hydrocarbons are also widely used in polymer, detergent and lubricant industries.
In a previous study, the IISc team purified and characterized an enzyme called UndB, bound to the membranes of living cells, especially certain bacteria. It can convert fatty acids to 1-alkenes at the fastest rate currently possible. But the team found that the process was not very efficient—the enzyme would become inactivated after just a few cycles. When they investigated further, they realized that H2O2—a byproduct of the reaction process—was inhibiting UndB.
In the current study published in Science Advances, the team circumvented this challenge by adding another enzyme called catalase to the reaction mix.
“The catalase degrades the H2O2 that is produced,” explains