Catalytically self-sufficient cytochromes P450 for green production of fine chemicals

This review covers our current knowledge on catalytically self-sufficient cytochromes P450. These enzymes present all the advantages of the regio- and stereo-selectivity of typical P450s combined with the fact that, due to the natural fusion with their reductases, their application in biocatalysis does not need the addition of other proteins: only NAD(P)H and substrate are needed to trigger catalysis. To this date only few catalytically self-sufficient P450s have been isolated from bacteria, fungi and plants. Their low number does not detract from their importance, as the reactions they catalyse and the turnover numbers of which they are capable (in some cases higher than 15,000 s−1) makes them highly relevant to the chemical and pharmaceutical industry. These enzymes will be covered in this review, together with their specific reactions relevant to the field of biocatalysis.