Production of peracids using an enzyme having perhydrolysis activity

A process for producing a peroxycarboxylic acid comprising:

• a) providing a set of reaction components, said components comprising:
• 1) a substrate selected from the group consisting of:
• i) esters having the structure
• wherein R1=C1 to C7 straight chain or branched chain alkyl optionally substituted with an hydroxyl or a C1 to C4 alkoxy group and R2=C1 to C10 straight chain or branched chain alkyl, alkenyl, alkynyl, aryl, alkylaryl, alkylheteroaryl, heteroaryl, (CH2CH2—O)nH or(CH2CH(CH3)—O)nH and n=1 to 10;
• ii) glycerides having the structure
• wherein R1=C1 to C7 straight chain or branched chain alkyl optionally substituted with an hydroxyl or a C1 to C4 alkoxy group and R3 and R4 are individually H or R1C(O);
• and
• iii) acetylated saccharides selected from the group consisting of acetylated monosaccharides, acetylated disaccharides, and acetylated polysaccharides;
• 2) a source of peroxygen;
• and
• 3) an enzyme catalyst comprising an enzyme, wherein said enzyme has perhydrolase activity and comprises a signature motif that aligns with a reference sequence SEQ ID NO:
• 2 using CLUSTALW, said signature motif comprising:
• i) an RGQ motif at positions corresponding to positions 118-120 of SEQ ID NO:2;
• ii) a GXSQG motif at positions corresponding to positions 179-183 of SEQ ID NO:2;
• and
• iii) an HE motif at positions corresponding to positions 298-299 of SEQ ID NO:2;
• and
• b) combining said reaction components under suitable reaction conditions whereby a peroxycarboxylic acid is produced.