Functionality at the end of a fatty acid chain - chemical and biological routes to ω-hydroxylated fatty acids

Hydroxylated fatty acids are valuable compounds in the chemical industry, being used in various products. ω-Hydroxylated fatty acids are versatile oleochemicals that can be used in polyester and polyamide production. Although a significant number of conventional synthetic chemistry production routes have been developed for ω-hydroxy acids, considerable challenge relates to their production in price-competitive, renewable, and sustainable production systems. The development and utilisation of biological systems for ω-hydroxy acid production may allow the transition of these compounds from specialty chemical to commodity material. The viability of biological routes to ω-hydroxylated fatty acids is dependent on the identification of enzymes and systems capable of such modifications. Cytochrome P450 monooxygenases are currently the only characterised enzymes known to ω-hydroxylate fatty acids and yeast provides valuable systems to perform the ω-hydroxylation biotransformations.