FIGURE 1.

The four types of aerobic degradation pathway (adapted from van Beilen et al., 2003). Fatty acids produced via terminal oxidation can either enter β-oxidation or be oxygenated further by the ω-fatty acid monooxygenases to form dicarboxylic acid, i.e., biterminal oxidation. Subterminal oxidation leads to the secondary alcohol or methyl acetone, which can further be oxidated by the subsequent Baeyer–Villiger monooxygenase and esterase, generating an alcohol and a fatty acid. The Finnerty pathway is initiated by dioxygenases to form n-alkyl hydroperoxides, which are then in turn oxidized to peroxy acids, alkyl aldehydes, and fatty acids.