Regioselective oxygenation of fatty acids, fatty alcohols and other aliphatic compounds by a basidiomycete heme-thiolate peroxidase

Reaction of fatty acids, fatty alcohols, alkanes, sterols, sterol esters and triglycerides with the so-called aromatic peroxygenase from Agrocybe aegerita was investigated using GC–MS. Regioselective hydroxylation of C12–C20 saturated/unsaturated fatty acids was observed at the ω−1 and ω−2 positions (except myristoleic acid only forming the ω−2 derivative). Minor hydroxylation at ω and ω−3 to ω−5 positions was also observed. Further oxidized products were detected, including keto, dihydroxylated, keto-hydroxy and dicarboxylic fatty acids. Fatty alcohols also yielded hydroxy or keto derivatives of the corresponding fatty acid. Finally, alkanes gave, in addition to alcohols at positions 2 or 3, dihydroxylated derivatives at both sides of the molecule; and sterols showed side-chain hydroxylation. No derivatives were found for fatty acids esterified with sterols or forming triglycerides, but methyl esters were ω−1 or ω−2 hydroxylated. Reactions using H218O2 established that peroxide is the source of the oxygen introduced in aliphatic hydroxylations. These studies also indicated that oxidation of alcohols to carbonyl and carboxyl groups is produced by successive hydroxylations combined with one dehydration step. We conclude that the A. aegerita peroxygenase not only oxidizes aromatic compounds but also catalyzes the stepwise oxidation of aliphatic compounds by hydrogen peroxide, with different hydroxylated intermediates.

► The Agrocybe aegerita “aromatic peroxygenase” also oxygenates aliphatic compounds.
► Aliphatic hydroxylation by this enzyme is regioselective at ω−1 and ω−2 positions.
► Further oxidation of hydroxylated products results in keto and carboxylic derivatives.
► GC–MS of H218O2 reactions showed that hydroxylation is at expenses of peroxide oxygen.