Biotransformation of linoleic acid into hydroxy fatty acids and carboxylic acids using a linoleate double bond hydratase as key enzyme

Hydroxy fatty acids are used as starting materials for the production of secondary metabolites and signalling molecules as well as in the manufacture of industrial fine chemicals. However, these compounds are usually difficult to produce from renewable biomass by chemical means. In this study, linoleate double bond hydratases of Lactobacillus acidophilus NBRC 13951 were cloned for the first time. These enzymes were highly specific for the hydration of the C-9 or the C-12 double bond of unsaturated fatty acids (e.g., linoleic acid). Thereby, the enzymes allowed the selective production of hydroxy fatty acids such as 13-hydroxy- cis -9-octadecenoic acid and 10-hydroxy- cis -12-octadecenoic acid from linoleic acid. In addition, the hydroxy fatty acids were further converted into industrially relevant carboxylic acids (e.g., 12-hydroxy-cis-9-dodecenoic acid, a, w-tridec-9-enedioic acid) and lactones (i.e., d-decalactone, g-dodecelactone) via whole-cell biocatalysis using an enzyme cascade. This study thus contributes to the preparation of hydroxy fatty acids, unsaturated carboxylic acids, and lactones from renewable unsaturated fatty acids.