In Brazil, in recent decades, scientists have sought solutions to improve the sustainable production of biofuels from renewable sources. The latest advance in this field was announced at the end of May by Brazilian researchers and could boost the production of sustainable biofuels for aviation and maritime shipping.
The enzyme discovered by the CNPEM group is OleTPRN, a polyunsaturated alkene-producing decarboxylase belonging to the cytochrome P450 superfamily.
This metalloenzyme derived from the bacterium Rothia nasimurium promises to be the key to development of novel biotechnological routes in the production of renewable hydrocarbons for aviation from different feedstocks, such as oleaginous biomass from soy, macaw palm (Acrocomia aculeata) or corn, among others, and lignocellulosic biomass from sugarcane bagasse or straw and in the paper industry.
