A P450 monooxygenase from Nocardia farcinica (CYP154A8) catalyses the stereo- and regioselective hydroxylation of n-alkanes, still a challenging task in chemical catalysis. In a biphasic reaction system, the regioselectivity for the C2-position of C7-C9 alkanes was over 90%. The enzyme showed strict S-selectivity for all tested substrates, with enantiomeric excess (ee) of up to 91%.

The relationship between energy calculations and boiling points was studied on a set of fourteen n-alkanes. The correlation analysis clearly showed that the best relationship is not linear. The regression analysis showed that a dose-response logistic function provided a very good agreement between the boiling points of alkanes and their heat of formation.

We have cloned homologs of the Pseudomonas putida GPo1 alkane hydroxylase from Pseudomonas aeruginosa PAO1, Pseudomonas fluorescens CHA0, Alcanivorax borkumensis AP1, Mycobacterium tuberculosis H37Rv, and Prauserella rugosa NRRL B-2295. Sequence comparisons show that the level of protein sequence identity between the homologs is as low as 35%, and that the Pseudomonas alkane hydroxylases are as...

We show the potentiality of coupling together different compound-specific isotopic analyses in a laboratory experiment, where (13)C-depleted leaf litter was incubated on a (13)C-enriched soil. The aim of our study was to identify the soil compounds where the C derived from three different litter species is retained. Three (13)C-depleted leaf litter (Liquidambar styraciflua L., Cercis canadensis...

Chemical communication is central for the formation and maintenance of insect societies. Generally, social insects only allow nest-mates into their colony, which are recognized by their cuticular hydrocarbons (CHCs). Social parasites, which exploit insect societies, are selected to circumvent host recognition. Here, we studied whether chemical strategies to reduce recognition evolved convergent...

RhC1(CO)(PMe3)2 under irradiation is a powerful catalyst which can functionalize hydrocarbons including alkanes under mild conditions. The reaction with carbon monoxide leads to the formation of the corresponding aldehyde. Alkanes react regioselectively at the terminal methyl group. The reaction of alkanes under inert atmosphere results in the formation of alkenes with a concomitant evolution o...

We investigated the possibility of utilizing unusual carbon sources by three yeast strains: Candida krusei DBM 2136, Trichosporon cutaneum CCY 30-5-10, and Yarrowia lipolytica CCY 30-26-36. These strains are characterized by high biomass yield, ability to accumulate high amounts of lipids, and their potential as producers of dietetically important fatty acids. The aim of this work was the produ...

C and dC values were measured for individual long-chain n-alkanes (C24ÿ33) from Santa Monica Basin sediments. The data were then simulated using a three-component mixing model designed to represent the contributions of di€erent sources. The three selected end members were petroleum, modern plant wax, and shale-derived alkanes. The model was optimized to ®t the data and to determine the fraction...

Haerwusu Surface Mine of the Jungar Coalfield is a large coal mine. Its formation environments have not been reported in detail. In order to reconstruct paleoenvironment peat formation, nine samples were collected, and analyzed using microscope, column chromatography, gas chromatography (GC), chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC–MS). According results microscopic analysis, average random vitrin...