Abstract
C7- C11 alkanes accumulate in the oleoresins of several Pinus species native to western North America, most notably in the xylem oleoresin of Jeffrey pine, Pinus jeffreyi Grey. & Half. (Savage et al., 1990a). Biological production of light hydrocarbons is of interest because they possess the same excellent combustion properties as petrochemical hydrocarbons in gasoline. Whereas production levels of short-chain alkanes in plants are insufficient to provide an economically viable fuel source, the genes encoding the alkane biosynthetic pathway may provide a biotechnological resource for engineering fermentation organisms with the capability to convert biomass to an alkane-based fuel. However, the feasibility of transgenic alkane biosynthesis depends upon the complexity of the alkane biosynthetic pathway.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Access this chapter
Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout
Purchases are for personal use only
References
Agrawal VP, Lessire R, Stumpf PK (1984) Biosynthesis of very long chain fatty acids in microsomes from epidermal cells of Allium Porrum L. Arch. Biochem Biophys 230: 580–589
Buckner JS, Kolattukudy PE (1973) Specific inhibition of alkane synthesis with accumulation of very long chain compounds by dithioerythritol, dithiothreitol, and mercaptoethanol in Pisum sativum. Arch Biochem Biophys 156: 34–45
Cheesbrough TM, Kolattukudy PE (1984) Alkane biosynthesis by decarbonylation of aldehydes catalyzed by a particulate preparation from Pisum sativum. Proc Natl Acad Sci 81: 6613–6617
Cheesbrough TM, Kolattukudy PE (1988) Microsomal preparation from an animal tissue catalyzes release of carbon monoxide from a fatty aldehyde to generate an alkane. J Biol Chem 263: 2738–2743
Dennis MW, Kolattukudy PE (1991) Alkane biosynthesis by decarbonylation of aldehyde catalyzed by a microsomal preparation from Botryococcus braunii. Arch Biochem Biophys 287: 268–275
Dennis MW, Kolattukudy PE (1992) A cobalt-porphyrin enzyme converts a fatty aldehyde to a hydrocarbon and CO. Proc Natl Acad Sci 89: 5306–5310
Kolattukudy PE (1987) Lipid-derived defensive polymers and waxes and their role in plant-microbe interaction. In PK Stumpf, ed, The Biochemistry of Plants: A Comprehensive Treatise, Vol. 9, Lipids: Structure and Function. Academic Press, Orlando, pp 291–314
Mpuru S, Reed JR, Reitz RC, Blomquist GJ (1996) Mechanism of hydrocarbon biosynthesis from aldehyde in selected insect species: requirement for 02 and NADPH and carbonyl group released as CO2. Insect Biochem Molec Biol 26: 203–208
Pattee HE, Singleton JA, Johns EB, Mullin BC (1970) Changes in the volatile profile of peanuts and their relationship to enzyme activity levels during maturation. J Agr Food Chem 18: 353–356
Pattee HE, Singleton JA, Johns EB (1974) Pentane production by peanut lipoxygenase. Lipids 9: 302–306
Reed JR, Vanderwel D, Choi S, Pomonis JG, Reitz RC, Blomquist GJ (1994) Unusual mechanism of hydrocarbon formation in the housefly: cytochrome P450 converts aldehyde to the sex pheromone component (Z)-9-tricosene and CO2. Proc Natl Acad Sci 91: 10000–10004
Sandermann W, Schweers W, Beinhoff 0 (1960) Uber die biogenese von n-heptan in Pious jeffreyi Murr. Chem Ber 93: 2266–2271
Savage TJ, Hamilton BS, Croteau R (1996e) Biochemistry of short-chain alkalies: tissue-specific biosynthesis of n-heptane in Pinus jeffreyi. Plant Physiol 110: 179–186.
Savage TJ, Hristova MK, Croteau R (1996b) Evidence for an elongation/reduction/CI-elimination pathway in the biosynthesis of n-heptane in Jeffrey pine (Pinus jeffreyi Grey. and Balf). Plant Physiol, in press.
Vaz. AH, Blomquist GJ, Reitz RC (1988) Characterization of the fatty acyl elongation reactions involved in hydrocarbon biosynthesis in the housefly, Musca domestica L. Insect Biochem 18: 177–184
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Editor information
Editors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
Copyright information
© 1997 Springer Science+Business Media Dordrecht
About this chapter
Cite this chapter
Savage, T.J., Hristova, M.K., Croteau, R. (1997). Biochemistry of Short-Chain Alkanes: Evidence for an Elongation/Reduction/Cl-Elimination Pathway. In: Williams, J.P., Khan, M.U., Lem, N.W. (eds) Physiology, Biochemistry and Molecular Biology of Plant Lipids. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-017-2662-7_16
Download citation
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-017-2662-7_16
Publisher Name: Springer, Dordrecht
Print ISBN: 978-90-481-4784-7
Online ISBN: 978-94-017-2662-7
eBook Packages: Springer Book Archive