Laboratory Evolution of Biocatalysts for Methane Hydroxylation and Alkene Epoxidation

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Hydroxylation and epoxidation reactions on hydrocarbons produce valuable intermediates for the chemicals and pharmaceuticals industries, but traditional oxidation processes are energy-or resource-intensive and produce unwanted and often environmentally hazardous side products. The objective of this research is to use a highly efficient alkane hydroxylase as the starting point for evolving catalysts for (1) the conversion of methane to methanol and (2) alkene epoxidation. Both of these goals are within reach, due to the special properties of the evolved alkane hydroxylase, which, as a side product of the previous evolution, acquired sufficient activity on small alkanes and on alkenes for screening mutant libraries for further improved catalysts. The biocatalysts discovered can be used in developing practical and clean hydroxylation and epoxidation processes.