Gaseous Alkane Hydroxylation by Deceiving Cytochrome P450BM3 Using Decoy Molecules

Cytochrome P450BM3 (P450BM3) catalyses the monooxygenation of fatty acids. However, in case non-native substrates possessing different structures from acids, remains an inactive state and catalysis does not proceed. This review will introduce a unique approach, wherein native substrate mimics (decoy molecules) are employed to trick into mistakenly hydroxylating substrates. The decoy molecule system has advantage that wild-type enzyme can be catalytic activity improved by developing appropriate molecules. With focus on hydroxylation gaseous alkanes, key developments since first discovery molecules present day covered briefly herein. Notably, ethane was efficiently hydroxylated with assistance systematically evolved N-substituted dipeptidic N-enanthoyl-L-pipecolyl-L-phenylalanine (C7AMPipPhe), achieving TOF 82.7 min−1 P450−1, representing highest among reported values catalysed P450s including engineered P450s.