Alkane biohydroxylation: Interests, constraints and future developments

Laurence Soussan; Nakry Pen; Marie-Pierre Belleville; José Sanchez Marcano; Delphine Paolucci-Jeanjean

doi:10.1016/j.jbiotec.2016.02.007

Alkane biohydroxylation: Interests, constraints and future developments

J Biotechnol. 2016 Mar 20:222:117-42. doi: 10.1016/j.jbiotec.2016.02.007. Epub 2016 Feb 4.

Authors

Laurence Soussan¹, Nakry Pen², Marie-Pierre Belleville², José Sanchez Marcano², Delphine Paolucci-Jeanjean²

Affiliations

¹ IEM (European Institute of Membranes), UMR 5635 (CNRS-ENSCM-Montpellier University), Place E. Bataillon, F-34095 Montpellier, France. Electronic address: Laurence.Soussan@enscm.fr.
² IEM (European Institute of Membranes), UMR 5635 (CNRS-ENSCM-Montpellier University), Place E. Bataillon, F-34095 Montpellier, France.

PMID: 26853477
DOI: 10.1016/j.jbiotec.2016.02.007

Abstract

Alkanes constitute one of the vastest reserves of raw materials for the production of fine chemicals. This paper focuses on recent advances in alkane biohydroxylation, i.e. the bioactivation of alkanes into their corresponding alcohols. Enzyme and whole-cell biocatalysts have been reviewed. Process considerations to implement such biocatalysts in bioreactors at large scale by coupling the bioconversion with cofactor regeneration and product removal are also discussed.

Keywords: Alcohol removal; Alkanes; Biocatalysts; Biohydroxylation; Bioreactors; Cofactor regeneration.

Publication types

Review

MeSH terms

Alcohols / chemistry
Alcohols / metabolism
Alkanes* / chemistry
Alkanes* / metabolism
Biocatalysis*
Bioreactors*
Biotechnology* / methods
Biotechnology* / trends
Hydroxylation*

Substances

Alcohols
Alkanes