Taxonomic distribution of alkane synthesizing aldehyde dehydrogenases across bacteria, fungi, plants, and animals

We cloned several aldehyde dehydrogenases (ALDHs) from bacteria and yeast that have aldehyde decarbonylase activity to convert aldehydes to alkanes. Alkane-synthesizing activity was observed through the assays using resting cells and cell-free extracts of the E. coli transformants expressing ALDH. This novel function of aldehyde dehydrogenase introduces a new pathway for hydrocarbon fuel production and offers novel insights into microbial processes that may explain the natural origins of petroleum.