Bioproduction of α,ω-oxyfunctionalised alkanes.

Wild-type and engineered microorganisms can catalyze highly selective diterminal oxidation of n-alkanes into valuable diols and diacids, with enzymatic systems varying by substrate chain length.

• Why it matters: Efficient bioconversion of n-alkanes into high-value products is crucial for sustainable chemical production, addressing the need for better utilization of petroleum, recycled plastics, and renewable resources.
• What they did: The review summarizes enzymatic pathways converting alkanes to α,ω-diols and α,ω-diacids, discusses enzyme and metabolic engineering strategies, and explores process optimization and integrated conversion approaches.
• The result: Advancements in these strategies may improve bioconversion efficiency, while identifying bottlenecks guides future research to enhance n-alkane valorization from diverse sources.