Alkene epoxidation catalyzed by cytochrome P450 BM-3 139-3

We recently reported conversion of cytochrome P450 BM-3, a medium-chain (C12–C18) fatty acid monooxygenase, into a highly efficient alkane hydroxylase by directed evolution [Nat. Biotechnol. 2002, 20, 1135]. P450 BM-3 mutant 139-3 exhibited high activity towards a variety of fatty acid and alkane substrates, including C3–C8 alkanes. We report here that mutant 139-3 is also active on benzene, styrene, cyclohexene, 1-hexene, and propylene. Benzene is converted to phenol, while styrene is converted to styrene oxide. Propylene oxidation generates only propylene oxide, but cyclohexene oxidation produces a mixture of cyclohexene oxide (85%) and 2-cyclohexene-1-ol (15%), and 1-hexene is converted to the allylic hydroxylation product, 1-hexene-3-ol. Initial rates of NADPH oxidation for 139-3 in the presence of the substrates greatly (17- to >100-fold) surpass the wild-type in all cases. However, NADPH consumption is only partially coupled to product formation (14–79%). This cytochrome P450 epoxidation catalyst is a suitable starting point for further evolution to improve coupling and activity.