Fatty acid hydratases for hydroxy fatty acid bioproduction

Hydroxy fatty acids are an emerging class of compounds with growing industrial and medicinal significance, yet their chemical synthesis remains challenging. Consequently, biological synthesis has been explored as an alternative approach, with fatty acid hydratases gaining considerable interest due to their mild reaction conditions and broad substrate and product ranges. The present invention introduces 21 fatty acid hydratases with varied regio-selectivity, substrate, and product scopes, and discloses methods of producing hydroxy fatty acids from unsaturated fatty acids using individual or combinations of these enzymes. The present invention offers a foundation for industrial-scale hydroxy fatty acid bioproduction, paving the way to broaden the availability and application of hydroxy fatty acids across various sectors.