Biosynthesis of natural aroma compounds using recombinant whole-cell tomato hydroperoxide lyase biocatalyst

Green leaf volatiles impart characteristic aroma and flavour to a variety of natural foods due to their inherent grassy note contributed by aldehydes. Hydroperoxide lyase (HPL) is an enzyme that helps in the cleavage of fatty acid hydroperoxides to short-chain aldehydes and omega-oxo-acids. A tomato hydroperoxide lyase gene was successfully expressed in E. coli BL21 (DE3) cells and used in the subsequent production of (Z)-3-hexenal. Biochemical characterization of the HPL activity exhibited by these whole cells enabled the development of a suitable one-pot reaction process for conversion of the hydroperoxide substrate to the corresponding aldehyde, (Z)-3-hexenal, and finally to (Z)-3-hexenol, a high-value flavour and fragrance ingredient.

Automated summary

Green leaf volatiles, characterized by their grassy note contributed by aldehydes, provide distinctive aroma and flavor to various natural foods. In this study, a tomato hydroperoxide lyase gene was successfully expressed in E. coli BL21 (DE3) cells and utilized for the production of (Z)-3-hexenal. Biochemical characterization of the HPL activity exhibited by these whole cells enabled the development of a suitable one-pot reaction process for the conversion of hydroperoxide substrate to the corresponding aldehyde, (Z)-3-hexenal, and finally to (Z)-3-hexenol, a valuable flavor and fragrance ingredient.