The role of cytochrome P450 monooxygenases in microbial fatty acid metabolism

Cytochrome P450 monooxygenases (P450s) are a diverse collection of enzymes acting on various endogenous and xenobiotic molecules. Most of them catalyse hydroxylation reactions and one group of possible substrates are fatty acids and their related structures. In this minireview, the significance of P450s in microbial fatty acid conversion is described. Bacteria and yeasts possess various P450 systems involved in alkane and fatty acid degradation, and often several enzymes with different activities and specificities are retrieved in one organism. Furthermore, P450s take part in the formation of fatty acid-based secondary metabolites. Finally, there are a substantial number of microbial P450s displaying activity towards fatty acids, but to which no biological role could be assigned despite the often quite intense research.