Photoenzymatic decarboxylation: A promising way to produce sustainable aviation fuels and fine chemicals

As one of the fastest-growing carbon emission sources, the aviation sector is severely restricted by carbon emission reduction targets. Sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) has emerged as the most potential alternative to traditional aviation fuel, but harsh production technologies limit its commercialization. Fatty acids photo-decarboxylase from Chlorella variabilis NC64A (CvFAP), the latest discovered photoenzyme, provides promising approaches to produce various carbon-neutral biofuels and fine chemicals. This review highlights the state-of-the-art strategies to enhance the application of CvFAP in carbon-neutral biofuel and fine chemicals produc-tion, including supplementing alkane as decoy molecular, screening efficient CvFAP variants with directed evolution, constructing genetic strains, employing biphasic catalytic system, and immobilizing CvFAP in an efficient photobioreactor. Furthermore, future opportunities are suggested to enhance photoenzymatic decar-boxylation and explore the catalytic mechanism of CvFAP. This review provides a broad context to improve CvFAP catalysis and advance its potential applications.

Automated summary

The recently discovered CvFAP provides a new approach for producing carbon-neutral biofuels and fine chemicals. This review presents strategies to improve CvFAP catalysis and explores its potential applications.