Alka(e)nes are ideal fuel components for aviation, long-distance transport, and shipping. They are typically derived from fossil fuels and accounting for 24% of difficult-to-eliminate greenhouse gas emissions. The synthesis of alka(e)nes in Yarrowia lipolytica from CO₂-neutral feedstocks represents an attractive alternative. Here we report that the high-titer synthesis of alka(e)nes in Yarrowia lipolytica harboring a fatty acid photodecarboxylase (CvFAP) is enabled by a discovered pathway. We find that acyl-CoAs, rather than free fatty acids (FFAs), are the preferred substrate for CvFAP. This finding allows us to debottleneck the pathway and optimize fermentation conditions so that we are able to redirect 89% of acyl-CoAs from the synthesis of neutral lipids to alka(e)nes and reach titers of 1.47 g/L from glucose. Two other CO₂-derived substrates, wheat straw and acetate, are also demonstrated to be effective in producing alka(e)nes. Overall, our technology could advance net-zero emissions by providing CO₂-neutral and energy-dense liquid biofuels.

For the functional food applications, antioxidant properties and the bioactive compounds of the 23 Curcuma species commercially cultivated in Thailand were studied. Total phenolic content and DPPH radical scavenging activity were determined. The concentrations of eight bioactive compounds, including curcumin (1), demethoxycurcumin (2), bisdemethoxycurcumin (3), 1,7-diphenyl-(4E,6E)-4,6-heptadien-3-ol (4), germacrone (5), furanodienone (6), zederone (7), and ar-turmerone (8), were determined from the Curcuma by HPLC. While the total phenolic content of C. longa was highest (22.3 ± 2.4 mg GAE/g, mg of gallic acid equivalents), C. Wan Na-Natong exhibited the highest DPPH (2,2-diphenyl-1-picryl-hydrazyl-hydrate) radical scavenging activity. Twenty-three Curcuma species showed characteristic distributions of the bioactive compounds, which can be utilized for the identification and authentication of the cultivated Curcuma species. C. longa contained the highest content of curcumin (1) (304.9 ± 0.1 mg/g) and C. angustifolia contained the highest content of germacrone (5) (373.9 ± 1.1 mg/g). It was noteworthy that 1,7-diphenyl-(4E,6E)-4,6-heptadien-3-ol (4) was found only from C. comosa at a very high concentration (300.7 ± 1.4 mg/g). It was concluded that Thai Curcuma species have a great potential for the application of functional foods and ingredients.