A photodecarboxylase from Micractinium conductrix active on medium and short-chain fatty acids

Hydrocarbons are essential base chemicals as energy carriers and starting materials for chemical manufacture. So-called fatty acid photodecarboxylases (FAPs) represent interesting catalysts for the conversion of natural fatty acids into hydrocarbons thereby giving access to alkanes from renewable feedstock. Today, however, only few FAPs are known. In the current study we report a new FAP from the marine organism Micractinium conductrix ( Mc FAP). In contrast to currently known FAPs Mc FAP exhibits high catalytic activity towards short and medium fatty acids. Recombinant expression and basic biochemical characterisation of this new member of the FAP family is reported.