Selective Epoxidation of Fatty Acids and Fatty Acid Methyl Esters by Fungal Peroxygenases

Abstract

Abstract Recently discovered fungal unspecific peroxygenases from Marasmius rotula and Chaetomium globosum catalyze the epoxidation of unsaturated fatty acids (FA) and FA methyl esters (FAME), unlike the well‐known peroxygenases from Agrocybe aegerita and Coprinopsis cinerea . Reactions of a series of unsaturated FA and FAME with cis ‐configuration revealed high (up to 100 %) substrate conversion and selectivity towards epoxidation, although some significant differences were observed between enzymes and substrates with the best results being obtained with the C. globosum enzyme. This and the M. rotula peroxygenase appear as promising biocatalysts for the environmentally‐friendly production of reactive FA epoxides given their self‐sufficient monooxygenase activity and the high conversion rate and epoxidation selectivity.