Research in Brazil discovers enzyme that produces precursor molecules for aviation fuel

A study by researchers from the National Center for Research in Energy and Materials (CNPEM), published in the journal of the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS), reveals the discovery of a promising new enzyme for use in processes to replace petroleum with raw materials of plant origin in the manufacture of sustainable biofuels for long-distance transport (aviation, sea, and land), and for the synthesis of bioplastics, biopolymers, bioresins, and biosolvents. The “OleTPRN” enzyme is capable of converting fatty acids into alkenes (olefins), an important chemical intermediate that corresponds to approximately 70% of the petrochemical sector, with potential impact on different industrial areas such as food, cosmetics, and pharmaceuticals. The enzyme identified by researchers from CNPEM, an organization supervised by the Ministry of Science, Technology, and Innovation (MCTI), opens up a range of opportunities for its compatibility with industrially relevant microorganisms and for enabling the use of a wide range of raw materials, such as those rich in oleic acid, one of the most abundant fatty acids in nature. The expectation is that the new enzyme can be used on a large scale in industrial processes, and for the metabolic engineering of microbial strains for the production of hydrocarbons by fermentation processes, contributing to the transition to a low-carbon economy. – https://aeroin.net/pesquisa-no-brasil-descobre-enzima-que-produz-moleculas-precursoras-para-combustiveis-de-aviacao/