Enzymatic Biosynthesis Of Lactones

A method for enzymatically producing a lactone under physiological conditions, the method comprising culturing a recombinant bacterium that heterologously expresses a YbgC protein and an acyl-CoA synthetase protein, in a culture medium having a neutral pH,

• wherein the heterologously expressed YbgC protein converts hydroxy acyl-CoA substrate to a lactone, and
• wherein the hydroxy acyl-CoA substrate is a member selected from a 4-hydroxy acyl-CoA;
• a 5-hydroxy acyl-CoA and a 6-hydroxy acyl-CoA, and
• wherein the heterologously expressed YbgC protein converts the 4-hydroxy acyl-CoA to a γ-lactone;
• the heterologously expressed YbgC protein converts the 5-hydroxy acyl-CoA to a δ-lactone and the heterologously expressed YbgC protein converts the 6-hydroxy acyl-CoA to a ε-lactone.