Hydrocarbon-producing genes and methods of their use

Abstract

The invention provides isolated nucleic acids and isolated polypeptides involved in the synthesis of hydrocarbons and hydrocarbon intermediates. Homologs of, conservative variants of, and sequences having at least about 35% sequence identity with nucleic acids involved in the synthesis of hydrocarbons and hydrocarbon intermediates are also provided. The invention further provides methods for producing an aliphatic ketone or a hydrocarbon, as well as a method for identifying an enzyme useful for the production of hydrocarbons.

1 . An isolated nucleic acid encoding a polypeptide of no more than 1500 amino acid residues comprising an amino acid sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NOs: 64-74 and 91-133. 
     
     
         2 . The isolated nucleic acid of  claim 1 , wherein the nucleic acid encodes a first polypeptide and a second polypeptide, wherein each of the first and second polypeptides is no more than 1500 amino acid residues, and wherein each of the first and second polypeptides comprises an amino acid sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NOs: 64-74 and 91-133. 
     
     
         3 . The isolated nucleic acid of  claim 1 , wherein the nucleic acid encodes a first polypeptide, a second polypeptide, and a third polypeptide, wherein each of the first, second, and third polypeptides is no more than 1500 amino acid residues, and wherein each of the first, second, and third polypeptides comprises an amino acid sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NOs; 64-74 and 91-133. 
     
     
         4 . The isolated nucleic acid of  claim 1 , wherein the nucleic acid encodes a first polypeptide, a second polypeptide, a third polypeptide, and a fourth polypeptide, wherein each of the first, second, third, and fourth polypeptides is no more than 1500 amino acid residues, and wherein each of the first, second, third, and fourth polypeptides comprises an amino acid sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NOs: 64-74 and 91-133. 
     
     
         5 . An isolated nucleic acid encoding a polypeptide comprising an amino acid sequence selected from the group consisting of:
 (a) SEQ ID NO: 2, SEQ ID NO: 4, SEQ ID NO: 6, SEQ ID NO: 8, SEQ ID NO: 10, SEQ ID NO: 12, SEQ ID NO: 14, SEQ ID NO: 16, SEQ ID NO: 18, SEQ ID NO: 20, SEQ ID NO: 22, and SEQ ID NO: 88;   (b) a homolog of SEQ ID NO: 2, SEQ ID NO: 4, SEQ ID NO: 6, SEQ ID NO: 8, SEQ ID NO: 10, SEQ ID NO: 12, SEQ ID NO: 14, SEQ ID NO: 16, SEQ ID NO: 18, SEQ ID NO: 20, SEQ ID NO: 22, and SEQ ID NO: 88;   (c) a conservative variant of SEQ ID NO: 2, SEQ ID NO: 4, SEQ ID NO: 6, SEQ ID NO: 8, SEQ ID NO: 10, SEQ ID NO: 12, SEQ ID NO: 1, SEQ ID NO: 16, SEQ ID NO: 18, SEQ ID NO: 20, SEQ ID NO: 22, and SEQ ID NO: 88 comprising one or more conserved amino acid substitutions selected from the group consisting of Ala to Cys, Gly, or Ser; Arg to Ile, Lys, Met, or Orn; Asn to Asp, Gin, Glu, or His; Asp to Asn, Gln, or Glu; Cys to Met, Ser, or Thr; Gln to Asn, Asp, or Glu; Glu to Asn, Asp, or Gln; Gly to Acp, Ala, or Pro; His to Asn or Gln; Ile to Leu, Met, or Val; Leu to Ile, Met, or Val; Lys to Arg, Gln, Glu, Ile, Met or Orn; Met to Cys, Ile, Leu, or Val; Phe to His, L-Dopa, Leu, Met, Thr, Trp, Tyr, 3-phenylproline, 4-phenylproline, or 5-phenylproline; Pro to L-1-thioazolidine-4-carboxylic acid or D- or L-1-oxazolidine-4-carboxylic acid; Ser to Cys, Met, or Thr; Thr to Met, Ser, or Val; Trp to Tyr; Tyr to L-Dopa, His, or Phe; and Val to Ile, Leu, or Met; and   (d) a sequence having at least about 35% sequence identity with SEQ ID NO: 2, SEQ ID NO: 4, SEQ ID NO: 6, SEQ ID NO: 8, SEQ ID NO: 10, SEQ ID NO: 12, SEQ ID NO: 14, SEQ ID NO: 16, SEQ ID NO: 18, SEQ ID NO: 20, SEQ ID NO: 22, and SEQ ID NO: 88.   
     
     
         6 . The isolated nucleic acid of  claim 5 , wherein the nucleic acid encodes a polypeptide comprising an amino acid sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO: 2, SEQ ID NO: 4, SEQ ID NO: 6, SEQ ID NO.: 8, SEQ ID NO: 10, SEQ ID NO: 12, SEQ ID NO: 14, SEQ ID NO: 16, SEQ ID NO: 18, SEQ ID NO: 20, SEQ ID NO: 22, and SEQ ID NO: 88. 
     
     
         7 . The isolated nucleic acid of  claim 5 , wherein the nucleic acid encodes a polypeptide comprising an amino acid sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO: 2, SEQ ID NO: 4, SEQ ID NO: 12, and SEQ ID NO: 18. 
     
     
         8 . The isolated nucleic acid of  claim 5 , wherein the nucleic acid encodes a polypeptide comprising SEQ ID NO: 10. 
     
     
         9 . The isolated nucleic acid of  claim 5 , wherein the nucleic acid encodes a polypeptide comprising an amino acid sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO: 6, SEQ ID NO: 14, SEQ ID NO: 20, and SEQ ID NO: 88. 
     
     
         10 . The isolated nucleic acid of  claim 5 , wherein the nucleic acid encodes a polypeptide comprising an amino acid sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO: 8, SEQ ID NO: 16, and SEQ ID NO: 22. 
     
     
         11 . The isolated nucleic acid of  claim 5 , wherein the nucleic acid encodes a polypeptide comprising an amino acid sequence selected from the group consisting of a homolog of SEQ ID NO: 2, SEQ ID NO: 4, SEQ ID NO: 6, SEQ ID NO: 8, SEQ ID NO: 10, SEQ ID NO: 12, SEQ ID NO: 14, SEQ ID NO: 16, SEQ ID NO: 18, SEQ ID NO: 20, SEQ ID NO: 22, and SEQ ID NO: 88. 
     
     
         12 . The isolated nucleic acid of  claim 5 , wherein the nucleic acid encodes a polypeptide comprising an amino acid sequence selected from the group consisting of a homolog of SEQ ID NO: 2, SEQ ID NO: 4, SEQ ID NO: 12, and SEQ ID NO: 18. 
     
     
         13 . The isolated nucleic acid of  claim 5 , wherein the nucleic acid encodes a polypeptide comprising a homolog of SEQ ID NO: 10. 
     
     
         14 . The isolated nucleic acid of  claim 5 , wherein the nucleic acid encodes a polypeptide comprising an amino acid sequence selected from the group consisting of a homolog of SEQ ID NO: 6, SEQ ID NO: 14, SEQ ID NO: 20, and SEQ ID NO; 88. 
     
     
         15 . The isolated nucleic acid of  claim 5 , wherein the nucleic acid encodes a polypeptide comprising an amino acid sequence selected from the group consisting of a homolog of SEQ ID NO: 8, SEQ ID NO: 16, and SEQ ID NO: 22. 
     
     
         16 . The isolated nucleic acid of  claim 5 , wherein the nucleic acid encodes a polypeptide comprising an amino acid sequence selected from the group consisting of a conservative variant of SEQ ID NO: 2, SEQ ID NO: 4, SEQ ID NO: 6, SEQ ID NO: 8, SEQ ID NO: 10, SEQ ID NO: 12, SEQ ID NO: 14, SEQ ID NO: 16, SEQ ID NO: 18, SEQ ID NO: 20, SEQ ID NO: 22, and SEQ ID NO: 88 comprising one or more conserved amino acid substitutions selected from the group consisting of Ala to Cys, Gly, or Ser; Arg to Ile, Lys, Met, or Orn; Asn to Asp, Gln, Glu, or His; Asp to Asn, Gln, or Glu; Cys to Met, Ser, or Thr; Gln to Asn, Asp, or Glu; Glu to Asn, Asp, or Gln; Gly to Acp, Ala, or Pro; His to Asn or Gin; Ile to Leu, Met, or Val; Leu to Ile, Met, or Val; Lys to Arg, Gln, Glu, Ile, Met or Orn; Met to Cys, Ile, Leu, or Val; Phe to His, L-Dopa, Leu, Met, Thr, Trp, Tyr, 3-phenylproline, 4-phenylproline, or 5-phenylproline; Pro to L-1-thioazolidine-4-carboxylic acid or D- or L-1-oxazolidine-4-carboxylic acid; Ser to Cys, Met, or Thr; Thr to Met, Ser, or Val; Trp to Tyr; Tyr to L-Dopa, His, or Phe; and Val to Ile, Leu, or Met. 
     
     
         17 . The isolated nucleic acid of  claim 5 , wherein the nucleic acid encodes a polypeptide comprising an amino acid sequence selected from the group consisting of a conservative variant of SEQ ID NO: 2, SEQ ID NO: 4, SEQ ID NO: 12, and SEQ ID NO: 18 comprising one or more conserved amino acid substitutions selected from the group consisting of Ala to Cys, Gly, or Ser; Arg to Ile, Lys, Met, or Orn; Asn to Asp, Gln, Glu, or His; Asp to Asn, Gln, or Glu; Cys to Met, Ser, or Thr; Gln to Asn, Asp, or Glu; Glu to Asn, Asp, or Gln; Gly to Acp, Ala, or Pro; His to Asn or Gln; Ile to Leu, Met, or Val; Leu to Ile, Met, or Val; Lys to Arg, Gln, Glu, Ile, Met or Orn; Met to Cys, Ile, Leu, or Val; Phe to His, L-Dopa, Leu, Met, Thr, Trp, Tyr, 3-phenylproline, 4-phenylproline, or 5-phenylproline; Pro to L-1-thioazolidine-4-carboxylic acid or D- or L-1-oxazolidine-4-carboxylic acid; Ser to Cys, Met, or Thr; Thr to Met, Ser, or Val; Trp to Tyr; Tyr to L-Dopa, His, or Phe; and Val to Ile, Leu, or Met. 
     
     
         18 . The isolated nucleic acid of  claim 5 , wherein the nucleic acid encodes a polypeptide comprising a conservative variant of SEQ ID NO: 10 comprising one or more conserved amino acid substitutions selected from the group consisting of Ala to Cys, Gly, or Ser; Arg to Ile, Lys, Met, or Orn; Asn to Asp, Gln, Glu, or His; Asp to Asn, Gln, or Glu; Cys to Met, Ser, or Thr; Gln to Asn, Asp, or Glu; Glu to Asn, Asp, or Gln; Gly to Acp, Ala, or Pro; His to Asn or Gln; Ile to Leu, Met, or Val; Leu to Ile, Met, or Val; Lys to Arg, Gln, Glu, Ile, Met or Orn; Met to Cys, Ile, Leu, or Val; Phe to His, L-Dopa, Leu, Met, Thr, Trp, Tyr, 3-phenylproline, 4-phenylproline, or 5-phenylproline; Pro to L-1-thioazolidine-4-carboxylic acid or D- or L-1-oxazolidine-4-carboxylic acid; Ser to Cys, Met, or Thr; Thr to Met, Ser, or Val; Trp to Tyr; Tyr to L-Dopa, His, or Phe; and Val to Ile, Leu, or Met. 
     
     
         19 . The isolated nucleic acid of  claim 5 , wherein the nucleic acid encodes a polypeptide comprising an amino acid sequence selected from the group consisting of a conservative variant of SEQ ID NO: 6, SEQ ID NO: 14, SEQ ID NO: 20, and SEQ ID NO: 88 comprising one or more conserved amino acid substitutions selected from the group consisting of Ala to Cys, Gly, or Ser; Arg to Ile, Lys, Met, or Orn; Asn to Asp, Gln, Glu, or His; Asp to Asn, Gln, or Glu; Cys to Met, Ser, or Thr; Gln to Asn, Asp, or Glu; Glu to Asn, Asp, or Gln; Gly to Acp, Ala, or Pro; His to Asn or Gln; Ile to Leu, Met, or Val; Leu to lie, Met, or Val; Lys to Arg, Gln, Glu, Ile, Met or Orn; Met to Cys, Ile, Leu, or Val; Phe to His, L-Dopa, Leu, Met, Thr, Trp, Tyr, 3-phenylproline, 4-phenylproline, or 5-phenylproline; Pro to L-1-thioazolidine-4-carboxylic acid or D- or L-1-oxazolidine-4-carboxylic acid; Ser to Cys, Met, or Thr; Thr to Met, Ser, or Val; Trp to Tyr; Tyr to L-Dopa, His, or Phe; and Val to Ile, Leu, or Met. 
     
     
         20 . The isolated nucleic acid of  claim 5 , wherein the nucleic acid encodes a polypeptide comprising an amino acid sequence selected from the group consisting of a conservative variant of SEQ ID NO: 8, SEQ ID NO: 16, and SEQ ID NO: 22 comprising one or more conserved amino acid substitutions selected from the group consisting of Ala to Cys, Gly, or Ser; Arg to Ile, Lys, Met, or Orn; Asn to Asp, Gln, Glu, or His; Asp to Asn, Gln, or Glu; Cys to Met, Ser, or Thr; Gln to Asn, Asp, or Glu; Glu to Asn, Asp, or Gln; Gly to Acp, Ala, or Pro; His to Asn or Gln; Ile to Leu, Met, or Val; Leu to Ile, Met, or Val; Lys to Arg, Gln, Glu, Ile, Met or Orn; Met to Cys, Ile, Leu, or Val; Phe to His, L-Dopa, Leu, Met, Thr, Trp, Tyr, 3-phenylproline, 4-phenylproline, or 5-phenylproline; Pro to L-1-thioazolidine-4-carboxylic acid or D- or L-1-oxazolidine-4-carboxylic acid; Ser to Cys, Met, or Thr; Thr to Met, Ser, or Val; Ttp to Tyr; Tyr to L-Dopa, His, or Phe; and Val to He, Leu, or Met. 
     
     
         21 . The isolated nucleic acid of  claim 5 , wherein the nucleic acid encodes a polypeptide comprising an amino acid sequence selected from the group consisting of a sequence having at least about 35% sequence identity with SEQ ID NO: 2, SEQ ID NO: 4, SEQ ID NO: 6, SEQ ID NO: 8, SEQ ID NO: 10, SEQ ID NO: 12, SEQ ID NO: 14, SEQ ID NO: 16, SEQ ID NO: 18, SEQ ID NO: 20, SEQ ID NO: 22, and SEQ ID NO: 88. 
     
     
         22 . The isolated nucleic acid of  claim 5 , wherein the nucleic acid encodes a polypeptide comprising an amino acid sequence selected from the group consisting of a sequence having at least 50% sequence identity with SEQ ID NO: 2, SEQ ID NO: 4, SEQ ID NO: 6, SEQ ID NO: 8, SEQ ID NO: 10, SEQ ID NO: 12, SEQ ID NO: 14, SEQ ID NO: 16, SEQ ID NO: 18, SEQ ID NO: 20, SEQ ID NO: 22, and SEQ ID NO: 88. 
     
     
         23 . The isolated nucleic acid of  claim 5 , wherein the nucleic acid encodes a polypeptide comprising an amino acid sequence selected from the group consisting of a sequence having at least 80% sequence identity with SEQ ID NO: 2, SEQ ID NO: 4, SEQ ID NO: 6, SEQ ID NO: 8, SEQ ID NO: 10, SEQ ID NO: 12, SEQ ID NO: 14, SEQ ID NO: 16, SEQ ID NO: 18, SEQ ID NO: 20, SEQ ID NO: 22, and SEQ ID NO: 88. 
     
     
         24 . The isolated nucleic acid of  claim 5 , wherein the nucleic acid encodes a first polypeptide and a second polypeptide, wherein each of the first and second polypeptides comprises an amino acid sequence selected from the group consisting of:
 (a) SEQ ID NO: 2, SEQ ID NO: 4, SEQ ID NO: 6, SEQ ID NO: 8, SEQ ID NO: 10, SEQ ID NO: 12, SEQ ID NO: 14, SEQ ID NO: 16, SEQ ID NO: 18, SEQ ID NO: 20, SEQ ID NO: 22, and SEQ ID NO: 88;   (b) a homolog of SEQ ID NO: 2, SEQ ID NO: 4, SEQ ID NO: 6, SEQ ID NO: 8, SEQ ID NO: 10, SEQ ID NO: 12, SEQ ID NO: 14, SEQ ID NO: 16, SEQ ID NO: 18, SEQ ID NO: 20, SEQ ID NO: 22, and SEQ ID NO: 88;   (c) a conservative variant of SEQ ID NO: 2, SEQ ID NO: 4, SEQ ID NO: 6, SEQ ID NO: 8, SEQ ID NO: 10, SEQ ID NO: 12, SEQ ID NO: 14, SEQ ID NO: 16, SEQ ID NO: 18, SEQ ID NO: 20, SEQ ID NO: 22, and SEQ ID NO: 88 comprising one or more conserved amino acid substitutions selected from the group consisting of Ala to Cys, Gly, or Ser; Arg to Ile, Lys, Met, or Orn; Asn to Asp, Gin, Glu, or His; Asp to Asn, Gln, or Glu; Cys to Met, Ser, or Thr; Gln to Asn, Asp, or Glu; Glu to Asn, Asp, or Gln; Gly to Acp, Ala, or Pro; His to Asn or Gln; Ile to Leu, Met, or Val; Leu to ile, Met, or Val; Lys to Arg, Gln, Glu, Ile, Met or Orn; Met to Cys, Ile, Leu, or Val; Phe to His, L-Dopa, Leu, Met, Thr, Trp, Tyr, 3-phenylproline, 4-phenylproline, or 5-phenylproline; Pro to L-1-thioazolidine-4-carboxylic acid or D- or L-1-oxazolidine-4-carboxylic acid; Ser to Cys, Met, or Thr; Thr to Met, Ser, or Val; Trp to Tyr; Tyr to L-Dopa, His, or Phe; and Val to Ile, Leu, or Met; and   (d) a sequence having at least about 35% sequence identity with SEQ ID NO: 2, SEQ ID NO: 4, SEQ ID NO: 6, SEQ ID NO: 8, SEQ ID NO: 10, SEQ ID NO: 12, SEQ ID NO: 14, SEQ ID NO: 16, SEQ ID NO: 18, SEQ ID NO: 20, SEQ ID NO: 22, and SEQ ID NO: 88.   
     
     
         25 . The isolated nucleic acid of  claim 5 , wherein the nucleic acid encodes a first polypeptide, a second polypeptide, and a third polypeptide, wherein each of the first, second, and third polypeptides comprises an amino acid sequence selected from the group consisting of:
 (a) SEQ ID NO: 2, SEQ ID NO: 4, SEQ ID NO: 6, SEQ ID NO: 8, SEQ ID NO: 10, SEQ ID NO: 12, SEQ ID NO: 14, SEQ ID NO: 16, SEQ ID NO: 18, SEQ ID NO: 20, SEQ ID NO: 22, and SEQ ID NO: 88;   (b) a homolog of SEQ ID NO: 2, SEQ ID NO: 4, SEQ ID NO: 6, SEQ ID NO: 8, SEQ ID NO: 10, SEQ ID NO: 12, SEQ ID NO: 14, SEQ ID NO: 16, SEQ ID NO: 18, SEQ ID NO: 20, SEQ ID NO: 22, and SEQ ID NO: 88;   (c) a conservative variant of SEQ ID NO: 2, SEQ ID NO: 4, SEQ ID NO: 6, SEQ ID NO: 8, SEQ ID NO: 10, SEQ ID NO: 12, SEQ ID NO: 14, SEQ ID NO: 16, SEQ ID NO: 18, SEQ ID NO: 20, SEQ ID NO: 22, and SEQ ID NO: 88 comprising one or more conserved amino acid substitutions selected from the group consisting of Ala to Cys, Gly, or Ser; Arg to Ile, Lys, Met, or Orn; Asn to Asp, Gin, Glu, or His; Asp to Asn, Gln, or Glu; Cys to Met, Ser, or Thr; Gln to Asn, Asp, or Glu; Glu to Asn, Asp, or Gln; Gly to Acp, Ala, or Pro; His to Asn or Gln; Ile to Leu, Met, or Val; Leu to Ile, Met, or Vat; Lys to Arg, Gln, Glu, Ile, Met or Orn; Met to Cys, Ile, Leu, or Val; Phe to His, L-Dopa, Leu, Met, Thr, Trp, Tyr, 3-phenylproline, 4-phenylproline, or 5-phenylproline; Pro to L-1-thioazolidine-4-carboxylic acid or D- or L-1-oxazolidine-4-carboxylic acid; Ser to Cys, Met, or Thr; Thr to Met, Ser, or Val; Trp to Tyr; Tyr to L-Dopa, His, or Phe; and Val to Ile, Leu, or Met; and   (d) a sequence having at least about 35% sequence identity with SEQ ID NO: 2, SEQ ID NO: 4, SEQ ID NO: 6, SEQ ID NO: 8, SEQ ID NO: 10, SEQ ID NO: 12, SEQ ID NO: 14, SEQ ID NO: 16, SEQ ID NO: 18, SEQ ID NO: 20, SEQ ID NO: 22, and SEQ ID NO: 88.   
     
     
         26 . The isolated nucleic acid of  claim 5 , wherein the nucleic acid encodes a first polypeptide, a second polypeptide, a third polypeptide, and a fourth polypeptide, wherein each of the first, second, third, and fourth polypeptides comprises an amino acid sequence selected from the group consisting of:
 (a) SEQ ID NO: 2, SEQ ID NO: 4, SEQ ID NO: 6, SEQ ID NO: 8, SEQ ID NO: 10, SEQ ID NO: 12, SEQ ID NO: 14, SEQ ID NO: 16, SEQ ID NO: 18, SEQ ID NO: 20, SEQ ID NO: 22, and SEQ ID NO: 88;   (b) a homolog of SEQ ID NO: 2, SEQ ID NO: 4, SEQ ID NO: 6, SEQ ID NO: 8, SEQ ID NO: 10, SEQ ID NO: 12, SEQ ID NO: 14, SEQ ID NO: 16, SEQ ID NO: 18, SEQ ID NO: 20, SEQ ID NO: 22, and SEQ ID NO: 88;   (c) a conservative variant of SEQ ID NO: 2, SEQ ID NO: 4, SEQ ID NO: 6, SEQ ID NO: 8, SEQ ID NO: 10, SEQ ID NO: 12, SEQ ID NO: 14, SEQ ID NO: 16, SEQ ID NO: 18, SEQ ID NO: 20, SEQ ID NO: 22, and SEQ ID NO: 88 comprising one or more conserved amino acid substitutions selected from the group consisting of Ala to Cys, Gly, or Ser; Arg to Ile, Lys, Met, or Orn; Asn to Asp, Gln, Glu, or His; Asp to Asn, Gln, or Glu; Cys to Met, Ser, or Thr; Gln to Asn, Asp, or Glu; Glu to Asn, Asp, or, Gln; Gly to Acp, Ala, or Pro; His to Asn or Gln; Ile to Leu, Met, or Val; Leu to Ile, Met, or Val; Lys to Arg, Gln, Glu, Ile, Met or Orn; Met to Cys, Ile, Leu, or Val; Phe to His, L-Dopa, Leu, Met, Thr, Trp, Tyr, 3-phenylproline, 4-phenylproline, or 5-phenylproline; Pro to L-1-thioazolidine-4-carboxylic acid or D- or L-1-oxazolidine-4-carboxylic acid; Set to Cys, Met, or Thr; Thr to Met, Ser, or Val; Trp to Tyr; Tyr to L-Dopa, His, or Phe; and Val to Ile, Leu, or Met; and   (d) a sequence having at least about 35% sequence identity with SEQ ID NO: 2, SEQ ID NO: 4, SEQ ID NO: 6, SEQ ID NO: 8, SEQ ID NO: 10, SEQ ID NO: 12, SEQ ID NO: 14, SEQ ID NO: 16, SEQ ID NO: 18, SEQ ID NO: 20, SEQ ID NO: 22, and SEQ ID NO: 88.   
     
     
         27 . The isolated nucleic acid of any of  claims 1 - 26 , wherein the polypeptide has no more than 1000 amino acid residues. 
     
     
         28 . The isolated nucleic acid of any of  claims 1 - 27 , wherein the polypeptide has no more than 800 amino acid residues. 
     
     
         29 . The isolated nucleic acid of any of  claims 1 - 28 , wherein the polypeptide has no more than 600 amino acid residues. 
     
     
         30 . The isolated nucleic acid of any of  claims 1 - 29 , wherein the polypeptide has at least about 100 amino acid residues. 
     
     
         31 . The isolated nucleic acid of  claim 30 , wherein the polypeptide has at least about 200 amino acid residues. 
     
     
         32 . The isolated nucleic acid of  claim 31 , wherein the polypeptide has at least about 250 amino acid residues. 
     
     
         33 . The isolated nucleic acid of any of  claims 1 - 32 , wherein the nucleic acid is isolated from a bacterium, a plant, an insect, a yeast, a fungus, an algae, or an animal. 
     
     
         34 . The isolated nucleic acid of any of  claims 1 - 33 , wherein the nucleic acid is isolated from a bacterium. 
     
     
         35 . The isolated nucleic acid of any of  claims 1 - 34 , wherein the bacterium is of a genus selected from the group consisting of  Anaeromyxobacter, Arthrobacter, Bdellovibrio, Blastopirellula, Brevibacterium, Burkholderia, Candidatus, Chloroflexus, Clavibacter, Clostridium, Colwellia, Congregibacter, Desulfatibacillum, Desulfococcus, Desulfotalea, Desulfuromonas, Flavobacteriales, Gemmata Geobacter, Hahella, Jannaschia, Kineococcus, Lentisphaera, Maricaulis, Marinobacterr, Micrococcus, Microscilla, Moritella, Mycobacterium, Neisseria, Nocardia, Opitutaceae, Opitutus, Paenibacillus, Pelobacter, Photobacterium, Photorhabdus, Planctomyces, Plesiocystis, Pseudoalteromonas, Psychromonas, Ralstonia, Rhodococcus, Rhodopirellula, Roseovarius, Shewanella, Stenotrophomonas, Streptomyces, Xanthomonas , and  Xylella.    
     
     
         36 . The isolated nucleic acid of any of  claims 1 - 35 , wherein the bacterium is selected from the group consisting of  Anaeromyxobacter  sp. Fw109-5,  Arthrobacter aurescens, Arthrobacter chlorophenolicus, Arthrobacter  sp. FB24 , Bdellovibrio bacteriovorus, Blastopirellula marina, Brevibacterium linens, Burkholderia ambifaria, Burkholderia cenocepacia, Burkholderia oklahomensis, Burkholderia pseudomallei, Burkholderia  sp. 383 , Candidatus Kuenenia stuttgartiensis, Chloroflexus aggregans, Chloroflexus aurantiacus, Clavibacter michiganensis  subsp.  michiganensis, Clavibacter michiganensis  subsp.  Sepedonicus, Clostridium botulinum  A,  Clostridium botulinum  A3,  Clostridium botulinum  B1,  Clostridium botulinum  Bf,  Clostridium botulinum  F,  Clostridium botulinum, Colwellia psychrerythraea, Congregibacter litoralis, Desulfibacillum alkenivorans, Desulfococcus oleovorans, Desulfotalea psychrophila, Desulfuromonas acetoxidans, Plavobacteriales bacterium, Gemmata obscuriglobus, Geobacter bemidiensis, Geobacter lovleyi, Geobacter  sp. FRC-32 , Geobacter uraniumreducens, Hahella chejuensis, Jannaschia  sp. CCS1 , Kineococcus radiotolerans, Lentisphaera araneosa, Maricaulis maris, Marinobacter algicola, Marinobacter aquaeolei, Micrococcus luteus, Microscilla marina, Moritella  sp. PE36,  Mycobacterium avium, Mycobacterium avium  subsp.  paratuberculosis, Mycobacterium marinum, Mycobacterium  sp. GP1 , Mycobacterium tuberculosis, Mycobacterium vanbaalenii, Neisseria gonorrhoeae, Nocardia farcinica, Opitutaceae bacterium, Opitutus terrae, Paenibacillus  sp. JDR-2 , Pelobacter propionicus, Photobacterium profundum, Photobacterium profundum, Photorhabdus luminescens  subsp.  laumondii, Planctomyces maris, Plesiocystis pacifica, Pseudoalteromonas atlantica, Psychromonas ingrahamii, Psychromonas  sp. CNPT3,  Ralstonia pickettii, Rhodococcus rhodochrous, Rhodococcus  sp.,  Rhodopirellula baltica, Roseovarius nubinhibens, Shewanella amazonensis, Shewanella baltica, Shewanella benthica, Shewanella denitrificans, Shewanella frigidimarina, Shewanella halifaxensis, Shewanella loihica, Shewanella oneidensis, Shewanella pealeana, Shewanella putrefaciens, Shewanella sediminis, Shewanella  sp. ANA-3,  Shewanella  sp. MR-4,  Shewanella  sp. MR-7,  Shewanella  sp. W3-18-1,  Shewanella woodyi, Stenotrophomonas maltophilia, Streptomyces ambofaciens, Xanthomonas axonopodis, Xanthomonas campestris, Xanthomonas oryzae , and  Xylella fastidiosa.    
     
     
         37 . The isolated nucleic acid of  claim 5 , wherein the nucleic acid is selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO: 1, SEQ ID NO: 3, SEQ ID NO: 5, SEQ ID NO: 7, SEQ ID NO: 9, SEQ ID NO: 11, SEQ ID NO: 13, SEQ ID NO: 15, SEQ ID NO: 17, SEQ ID NO: 19, SEQ ID NO: 21, SEQ ID NO: 23, and SEQ ID NO: 87. 
     
     
         38 . The isolated nucleic acid of any of  claims 1 - 37 , further comprising a promoter operably linked to a nucleic acid encoding the polypeptide. 
     
     
         39 . The isolated nucleic acid of  claim 38 , wherein the promoter is an inducible promoter, a constitutive promoter, or a cell-specific promoter. 
     
     
         40 . The isolated nucleic acid of  claim 39 , wherein the promoter is a T7 promoter, a PxylA promoter, a Pgrac promoter, a GAL1 promoter, a GAL10 promoter, or a pTrc promoter. 
     
     
         41 . The isolated nucleic acid of any of  claims 1 - 40 , further comprising at least one additional nucleic acid sequence selected from the group consisting of:
 (a) a regulatory sequence operatively coupled to the nucleic acid encoding the polypeptide;   (b) a selection marker operatively coupled to the nucleic acid encoding the polypeptide;   (c) a purification moiety operatively coupled to the nucleic acid encoding the polypeptide;   (d) a secretion sequence operatively coupled to the nucleic acid encoding the polypeptide; and   (e) a targeting sequence operatively coupled to the nucleic acid encoding the polypeptide.   
     
     
         42 . The isolated nucleic acid of any of  claims 1 - 40 , further comprising a selection marker operatively coupled to the nucleic acid encoding the polypeptide, wherein the selection marker is ampicillin/carbenicillin resistance, kanamycin resistance, chloramphenicol resistance, erythromycin resistance, streptomycin/spectinomycin resistance, or a histidine auxotrophic selectable marker gene. 
     
     
         43 . A vector comprising the isolated nucleic acid of any of  claims 1 - 42 . 
     
     
         44 . The vector of  claim 43 , wherein the vector is a plasmid. 
     
     
         45 . The vector of  claim 43 , wherein the plasmid is pET21b(+), pCOLADuet-1, pCDFDuet-1, pWH1520, pHT01, pESC-HIS, pET-21d(+), pETDuet-1, pACYCDuet-1, pTrcHis2A, pMAL-c2X, or pCL1920pTrc. 
     
     
         46 . A cell comprising an isolated nucleic acid of any of  claims 1 - 42  or the vector of any of  claims 43 - 45 . 
     
     
         47 . A cell transformed with an isolated nucleic acid of any of  claims 1 - 42 . 
     
     
         48 . A cell transfected with a vector of any of  claims 43 - 45 . 
     
     
         49 . The cell of any of  claims 46 - 48 , wherein the cell is a yeast cell, a fungal cell, an animal cell, an insect cell, a bacterial cell, an algae cell, or a plant cell. 
     
     
         50 . The cell of  claim 49 , wherein the cell is a bacterial cell. 
     
     
         51 . The cell of  claim 49 , wherein the cell is selected from the genus  Escherichia, Bacillus, Lactobacillus, Rhodococcus, Pseudomonas, Aspergillus, Trichoderma, Neurospora, Fusarium, Humicola, Rhizomucor, Kluyveromyces, Pichia, Mucor, Myceliophtora, Penicillium, Phanerochaete, Pleurotus, Trametes, Chrysosporium, Saccharomyces, Schizosaccharomyces, Stenotrophamonas, Kineococcus, Yarrowia , or  Streptomyces.    
     
     
         52 . The cell of  claim 51 , wherein the cell is a  Bacillus lentus  cell, a  Bacillus brevis  cell, a  Bacillus stearothermophilus  cell, a  Bacillus licheniformis  cell, a  Bacillus alkalophilus  cell, a  Bacillus coagulans  cell, a  Bacillus circulans  cell, a  Bacillus pumilis  cell, a  Bacillus thuringiensis  cell, a  Bacillus clausii  cell, a  Bacillus megaterium  cell, a  Bacillus subtilis  cell, or a  Bacillus amyloliquefaciens  cell. 
     
     
         53 . The cell of  claim 51 , wherein the cell is a  Trichoderma koningii  cell, a  Trichoderma viride  cell, a  Trichoderma reesei  cell, a  Trichoderma longibrachiatum  cell, an  Aspergillus awamori  cell, an  Aspergillus fumigates  cell, an  Aspergillus foetidus  cell, an  Aspergillus nidulans  cell, an  Aspergillus niger  cell, an  Aspergillus oryzae  cell, a  Humicola insolens  cell, a  Humicola lanuginaose  cell, a  Rhizomucor miehei  cell, or a  Mucor michei  cell. 
     
     
         54 . The cell of  claim 51 , wherein the cell is a  Streptomyces lividans  cell or a  Streptomyces murinus  cell. 
     
     
         55 . The cell of  claim 50 , wherein the cell is an  Actinomycetes  cell. 
     
     
         56 . The cell of  claim 51 , wherein the cell is an  Escherichia coli  cell. 
     
     
         57 . The cell of  claim 56 , wherein the  Escherichia coli  cell is a strain B, a strain C, a strain K, or a strain W  Escherichia coli  cell. 
     
     
         58 . The cell of  claim 49 , wherein the cell is selected from the group consisting of a  Stenotrophomonas maltophilia  cell, a  Kineococcus radiotolerans  cell, a  Bacillus megaterium  cell, and a  Saccharomyces cerevisiae  cell. 
     
     
         59 . The cell of  claim 50 , wherein the cell is selected from the group consisting of  Anaeromyxobacter  sp. Fw109-5,  Arthrobacter aurescens, Arthrobacter chlorophenolicus, Arthrobacter  sp. FB24 , Bdellovibrio bacteriovorus, Blastopirellula marina, Brevibacterium linens, Burkholderia ambifaria, Burkholderia cenocepacia, Burkholderia oklahomensis, Burkholderia pseudomallei, Burkholderia  sp. 383 , Candidatus Kuenenia stuttgartiensis, Chloroflexus aggregans, Chloroflexus aurantiacus, Clavibacter michiganensis  subsp.  michiganensis, Clavibacter michiganensis  subsp.  Sepedonicus, Clostridium botulinum  A,  Clostridium botulinum  A3,  Clostridium botulinum  B1 , Clostridium botulinum  Bf,  Clostridium botulinum  F,  Clostridium botulinum, Colwellia psychrerythraea, Congregibacter litoralis, Desulfatibacillum alkenivorans, Desulfococcus oleovorans, Desulfotalea psychrophila, Desulfuromonas acetoxidans, Flavobacteriales bacterium, Gemmata obscuriglobus, Geobacter bemidjiensis, Geobacter lovleyi, Geobacter  sp. FRC-32 , Geobacter uraniumreducens, Hahella chejuensis, Jannaschia  sp. CCS1,  Kineococcus radiotolerans, Lentisphaera araneosa, Maricaulis maris, Marinobacter algicola, Marinobacter aquaeolei, Micrococcus luteus, Microscilla marina, Moritella  sp. PE36,  Mycobacterium avium, Mycobacterium avium  subsp.  paratuberculosis, Mycobacterium marinum, Mycobacterium  sp. GP1 , Mycobacterium tuberculosis, Mycobacterium vanbaalenii, Neisseria gonorrhoeae, Nocardia farcinica, Opitutaceae bacterium, Opitutus terrae, Paenibacillus  sp. JDR-2 , Pelobacter propionicus, Photobacterium profundum, Photobacterium profundum, Photorhabdus luminescens  subsp.  laumondii, Planctomyces maris, Plesiocystis pacifica, Pseudoalteromonas atlantica, Psychromonas ingrahamii, Psychromonas  sp. CNPT3,  Ralstonia pickettii, Rhodococcus rhodochrous, Rhodococcus  sp.,  Rhodopirellula baltica, Roseovarius nubinhibens, Shewanella amazonensis, Shewanella baltica, Shewanella benthica, Shewanella denitrificans, Shewanella frigidimarina, Shewanella halifaxensis, Shewanella loihica, Shewanella oneidensis, Shewanella pealeana, Shewanella putrefaciens, Shewanella sediminis, Shewanella  sp. ANA-3,  Shewanella  sp. MR-4,  Shewanella  sp. MR-7,  Shewanella  sp. W3-18-1,  Shewanella woodyi, Stenotrophomonas maltophilia, Streptomyces ambofaciens, Xanthomonas axonopodis, Xanthomonas campestris, Xanthomonas oryzae , and  Xylella fastidiosa.    
     
     
         60 . The cell of  claim 49 , wherein the cell is selected from the group consisting of CHO cell, a COS cell, a VERO cell, a BHK cell, a HeLa cell, a Cv1 cell, an MDCK cell, a 293 cell, a 3T3 cell, and a PC12 cell. 
     
     
         61 . The cell of any of  claims 46 - 60 , wherein the cell comprises an alteration in a gene involved in the fatty acid biosynthetic pathway. 
     
     
         62 . The cell of  claim 61 , wherein the cell comprises a deletion in a gene encoding an acyl-CoA dehydrogenase. 
     
     
         63 . The cell of  claim 61 , wherein the cell comprises a mutation in a gene encoding acyl-CoA dehydrogenase. 
     
     
         64 . The cell of  claim 61 , wherein the cell comprises a deletion in a gene encoding a thioesterase. 
     
     
         65 . The cell of  claim 61 , wherein the cell comprises a mutation in a gene encoding a thioesterase. 
     
     
         66 . The cell of any of  claims 46 - 65 , wherein the cell additionally comprises an acyl-CoA synthase. 
     
     
         67 . The cell of any of  claims 46 - 66 , wherein the cell additionally comprises a thioesterase. 
     
     
         68 . The cell of any of  claims 46 - 67 , wherein the cell produces a hydrocarbon. 
     
     
         69 . The cell of  claim 68 , wherein the hydrocarbon is an olefin. 
     
     
         70 . The cell of  claim 68 , wherein the hydrocarbon is secreted by the cell. 
     
     
         71 . The cell of any of  claims 46 - 67 , wherein the cell produces an aliphatic ketone. 
     
     
         72 . A cell comprising the isolated nucleic acid of any of  claims 7 ,  12 , or  17 . 
     
     
         73 . The cell of  claim 72 , wherein the cell is a  Saccharomyces cerevisiae  cell. 
     
     
         74 . A method for producing a hydrocarbon comprising culturing the cell of any of  claims 46 - 70  with a substrate under conditions sufficient to produce a hydrocarbon. 
     
     
         75 . The method of  claim 74 , wherein the substrate is a carbon source, a fatty acid, acyl-CoA, acyl-AMP, acyl-ACP, α-alkyl-β-keto acid, α-alkyl-β-keto ester, or an aliphatic ketone. 
     
     
         76 . The method of  claim 74  or  75 , wherein the productivity of the cell is at least about 3 mg/L/OD 600 . 
     
     
         77 . The method of  claim 74  or  75 , wherein the productivity of the cell is at least about 5 mg/I/OD 600 . 
     
     
         78 . The method of  claim 74  or  75 , wherein the productivity of the cell is at least about 8 mg/L/OD 600 . 
     
     
         79 . The method of  claim 74  or  75 , wherein the productivity of the cell is at least about 15 mg/L/OD 600 . 
     
     
         80 . The method of  claim 74  or  75 , wherein the productivity of the cell is at least about 20 mg/L/OD 600 . 
     
     
         81 . The method of  claim 74  or  75 , wherein the productivity of the cell is at least about 30 mg/L/OD 6000 . 
     
     
         82 . The method of any of  claims 74 - 81 , further comprising isolating a hydrocarbon. 
     
     
         83 . The method of  claim 82 , wherein the hydrocarbon is isolated from the cell. 
     
     
         84 . The method of  claim 82 , wherein the hydrocarbon is isolated from the medium in which the cell is cultured. 
     
     
         85 . The method of any of  claims 74 - 84 , further comprising cracking or refining the hydrocarbon. 
     
     
         86 . The method of any of  claims 74 - 85 , wherein the hydrocarbon has a carbon chain length of about 10 to about 40 carbons. 
     
     
         87 . The method of  claim 86 , wherein the hydrocarbon has a carbon chain length of about 17 to about 34 carbons. 
     
     
         88 . The method of any of  claims 74 - 87 , wherein the hydrocarbon is mono-unsaturated or poly-unsaturated. 
     
     
         89 . A method for producing an aliphatic ketone comprising culturing the cell of any of  claims 46 - 67  or  71 - 73  with a substrate under conditions sufficient to produce an aliphatic ketone. 
     
     
         90 . The method of  claim 89 , wherein the substrate is a carbon source, a fatty acid, acyl-CoA, acyl-AMP, or acyl-ACP. 
     
     
         91 . The method of  claim 89  or  90 , wherein the productivity of the cell is at least about 0.1 mg/L/OD 600 . 
     
     
         92 . The method of  claim 89  or  90 , wherein the productivity of the cell is at least about 1 mg/L/OD 600 . 
     
     
         93 . The method of  claim 89  or  90 , wherein the productivity of the cell is at least about 3 mg/L/OD 600 . 
     
     
         94 . The method of  claim 89  or  90 , wherein the productivity of the cell is at least about 6 mg/L/OD 600 . 
     
     
         95 . The method of  claim 89  or  90 , wherein the productivity of the cell is at least about 9 mg/L/OD 600 . 
     
     
         96 . The method of  claim 89  or  90 , wherein the productivity of the cell is at least about 12 mg/L/OD 600 . 
     
     
         97 . The method of any of  claims 89 - 96 , further comprising isolating an aliphatic ketone. 
     
     
         98 . The method of  claim 97 , wherein the aliphatic ketone is isolated from the cell. 
     
     
         99 . The method of  claim 97 , wherein the aliphatic ketone is isolated from the medium in which the cell is cultured. 
     
     
         100 . The method of any of  claims 89 - 99 , wherein the aliphatic ketone has a carbon chain length of about 10 to about 40 carbons. 
     
     
         101 . The method of  claim 100 , wherein the aliphatic ketone has a carbon chain length of about 19 to about 31 carbons. 
     
     
         102 . The method of any of  claims 89 - 101 , wherein the aliphatic ketone is saturated, mono-unsaturated, or poly-unsaturated. 
     
     
         103 . A method for producing a purified polypeptide comprising culturing the cell of any of  claims 46 - 73  under conditions sufficient to produce the polypeptide encoded by the isolated nucleic acid. 
     
     
         104 . The method of  claim 103 , wherein the polypeptide is OleA, OleB, OleC, OleD, or OleBC. 
     
     
         105 . A method for producing an aliphatic ketone comprising incubating a substrate with OleA under conditions sufficient for producing an aliphatic ketone. 
     
     
         106 . The method of  claim 105 , wherein the substrate comprises acyl-CoA, acyl-AMP, or acyl-ACP. 
     
     
         107 . A method for producing a hydrocarbon comprising incubating a substrate with OleA, OleB, OleC, OleBC, OleD, or a combination thereof under conditions sufficient for producing a hydrocarbon. 
     
     
         108 . The method of  claim 107 , comprising incubating a substrate with OleA and OleD under conditions sufficient for producing a hydrocarbon. 
     
     
         109 . The method of  claim 107 , comprising incubating a substrate with OleA, OleC, and OleD under conditions sufficient for producing a hydrocarbon. 
     
     
         110 . The method of  claim 108  or  109 , further comprising OleB. 
     
     
         111 . The method of any of  claims 107 - 110 , wherein the substrate comprises acyl-CoA, acyl-AMP, or acyl-ACP. 
     
     
         112 . A method for producing biofuels comprising the method of any of  claims 74 - 102  and  105 - 110 . 
     
     
         113 . The method of  claim 112 , wherein the biofuel is a gasoline, biodiesel, or jet fuel. 
     
     
         114 . A hydrocarbon produced by the method of any of  claims 74 - 88  and  107 - 110 . 
     
     
         115 . A hydrocarbon, wherein the hydrocarbon has a δ 13 C of about −28 or greater. 
     
     
         116 . The hydrocarbon of  claim 15 , wherein the hydrocarbon has a δ 13 C of about −27 to about −24. 
     
     
         117 . The hydrocarbon of  claim 115 , wherein the hydrocarbon has a δ 13 C of about −15 to about −5 or greater. 
     
     
         118 . The hydrocarbon of  claim 117 , wherein the hydrocarbon has a δ 13 C of about −30 to about −15. 
     
     
         119 . A hydrocarbon, wherein the hydrocarbon has a pMC of at least about 50. 
     
     
         120 . The hydrocarbon of  claim 119 , wherein the hydrocarbon has a pMC of at least about 80. 
     
     
         121 . The hydrocarbon of  claim 119 , wherein the hydrocarbon has a pMC of at least about 90. 
     
     
         122 . The hydrocarbon of  claim 121 , wherein the olefin has a pMC of at least about 92. 
     
     
         123 . The hydrocarbon of  claim 122 , wherein the hydrocarbon has a pMC of about 50 to about 100. 
     
     
         124 . The hydrocarbon of any of  claims 114 - 123 , wherein the hydrocarbon is an olefin. 
     
     
         125 . The hydrocarbon of  claim 124 , wherein the olefin is mono-unsaturated. 
     
     
         126 . The hydrocarbon of  claim 124 , wherein the olefin is poly-unsaturated. 
     
     
         127 . The hydrocarbon of  claim 124 , wherein the olefin is di-unsaturated. 
     
     
         128 . The hydrocarbon of  claim 124 , wherein the olefin is tri-unsaturated. 
     
     
         129 . The hydrocarbon of any of  claims 124 - 128 , wherein the olefin has a carbon chain length of between about 10 to about 40 carbons. 
     
     
         130 . The hydrocarbon of  claim 129 , wherein the olefin has a carbon chain length of between about 19 to about 33 carbons. 
     
     
         131 . The hydrocarbon of any of  claims 114 - 130 , wherein the hydrocarbon is a straight chain hydrocarbon. 
     
     
         132 . The hydrocarbon of any of  claims 114 - 130 , wherein the hydrocarbon is a branched chain hydrocarbon 
     
     
         133 . The hydrocarbon of any of  claims 114 - 130 , wherein the hydrocarbon comprises a cyclic moiety. 
     
     
         134 . A biofuel comprising the hydrocarbon of any of  claims 114 - 133 . 
     
     
         135 . The biofuel of  claim 134 , wherein the biofuel is a gasoline, biodiesel, or jet fuel. 
     
     
         136 . The biofuel of  claim 134  or  135 , wherein the biofuel is derived from a carbon source. 
     
     
         137 . The biofuel of  claim 136 , wherein the carbon source is a renewable energy source. 
     
     
         138 . The biofuel of  claim 137 , wherein the renewable energy source is a biomass. 
     
     
         139 . An isolated polypeptide comprising an amino acid sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO: 2, SEQ ID NO: 4, SEQ ID NO: 12, and SEQ ID NO: 18, wherein the amino acid sequence comprises one or more amino acid substitutions, additions, insertions, or deletions. 
     
     
         140 . The isolated polypeptide of  claim 139 , wherein the polypeptide has Claisen condensation activity. 
     
     
         141 . The isolated polypeptide of  claim 140 , wherein the polypeptide catalyzes the condensation of two acylthioesters. 
     
     
         141 . An isolated polypeptide comprising an amino acid sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO: 8, SEQ ID NO: 16, and SEQ ID NO: 22, wherein the amino acid sequence comprises one or more amino acid substitutions, additions, insertions, or deletions. 
     
     
         142 . The isolated polypeptide of  claim 141 , wherein the polypeptide has oxidoreductase activity. 
     
     
         143 . The isolated polypeptide of  claim 142 , wherein the polypeptide catalyzes the reduction of a ketone. 
     
     
         144 . An isolated nucleic acid encoding a polypeptide having the same biological activity as a polypeptide comprising the amino acid sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO: 2, SEQ ID NO: 4, SEQ ID NO: 8, SEQ ID NO: 12, SEQ ID NO: 16, SEQ ID NO: 18, and SEQ ID NO: 22. 
     
     
         145 . The isolated nucleic acid of  claim 144 , wherein the isolated nucleic acid comprises; (i) a nucleic acid sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO: 1, SEQ ID NO: 3, SEQ ID NO: 7, SEQ ID NO: 11, SEQ ID NO: 15, SEQ ID NO: 17, and SEQ ID NO: 21 or a fragment thereof; or (ii) a nucleic acid sequence that hybridizes to a complement of a nucleic acid sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO: 1, SEQ ID NO: 3, SEQ ID NO: 7, SEQ ID NO: 11, SEQ ID NO: 15, SEQ ID NO: 17, and SEQ ID NO: 21 or to a fragment thereof. 
     
     
         146 . The isolated nucleic acid of  claim 144  or  145 , wherein the biological activity is Claisen condensation activity. 
     
     
         147 . The isolated nucleic acid of  claim 144  or  145 , wherein the biological activity is the condensation of two acylthioesters. 
     
     
         148 . The isolated nucleic acid of  claim 144  or  145 , wherein the biological activity is oxidoreductase activity. 
     
     
         149 . The isolated nucleic acid of  claim 144  or  145 , wherein the biological activity is reduction of a ketone. 
     
     
         150 . A genetically engineered organism comprising an exogenous nucleic acid sequence stably incorporated into the genome of an organism upstream of a genomic nucleic acid sequence that (a) has at least about 35% sequence identity to a nucleic acid sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO: 1, SEQ ID NO: 3, SEQ ID NO: 5, SEQ ID NO: 7, SEQ ID NO: 9, SEQ ID NO: 11, SEQ ID NO: 13, SEQ ID NO: 15, SEQ ID NO: 17, SEQ ID NO: 19, SEQ ID NO: 21, and SEQ ID NO: 87 and (b) encodes a polypeptide. 
     
     
         151 . The genetically engineered organism of  claim 150 , wherein the genomic nucleic acid sequence has at least 80% sequence identity to a nucleic acid sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO: 1, SEQ ID NO: 3, SEQ ID NO: 5, SEQ ID NO: 7, SEQ ID NO: 9, SEQ ID NO: 11, SEQ ID NO: 13, SEQ ID NO: 15, SEQ ID NO: 17, SEQ ID NO: 19, SEQ ID NO: 21, and SEQ ID NO: 87. 
     
     
         152 . The genetically engineered organism of  claim 151 , wherein the genomic nucleic acid sequence has at least 90% sequence identity to a nucleic acid sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO: 1, SEQ ID NO: 3, SEQ ID NO: 5, SEQ ID NO: 7, SEQ ID NO: 9, SEQ ID NO: 11, SEQ ID NO: 13, SEQ ID NO: 15, SEQ ID NO: 17, SEQ ID NO: 19, SEQ ID NO: 21, and SEQ ID NO: 87. 
     
     
         153 . The genetically engineered organism of  claim 152 , wherein the genomic nucleic acid sequence has at least 95% sequence identity to a nucleic acid sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO: 1, SEQ ID NO: 3, SEQ ID NO: 5, SEQ ID NO: 7, SEQ ID NO: 9, SEQ ID NO: 11, SEQ ID NO: 13, SEQ ID NO: 15, SEQ ID NO: 17, SEQ ID NO: 19, SEQ ID NO: 21, and SEQ ID NO: 87. 
     
     
         154 . The genetically engineered organism of  claim 153 , wherein the the genomic nucleic acid sequence comprises a nucleic acid sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO: 1, SEQ ID NO: 3, SEQ ID NO: 5, SEQ ID NO: 7, SEQ ID NO: 9, SEQ ID NO: 11, SEQ ID NO: 13, SEQ ID NO: 15, SEQ ID NO: 17, SEQ ID NO: 19, SEQ ID NO: 21, and SEQ ID NO: 87. 
     
     
         155 . The organism of any of  claims 150 - 154 , wherein the organism is selected from the group consisting of  Anaeromyxobacter  sp. Fw109-5,  Arthrobacter aurescens, Arthrobacter chlorophenolicus, Arthrobacter  sp. FB24 , Bdellovibrio bacteriovorus, Blastopirellula marina, Brevibacterium linens, Burkholderia ambifaria, Burkholderia cenocepacia, Burkholderia oklahomensis, Burkholderia pseudomallei, Burkholderia  sp. 383 , Candidatus Kuenenia stuttgartiensis, Chloroflexus aggregans, Chloroflexus aurantiacus, Clavibacter michiganensis  subsp.  michiganensis, Clavibacter michiganensis  subsp.  Sepedonicus, Clostridium botulinum  A,  Clostridium botulinum  A3,  Clostridium botulinum  B1,  Clostridium botulinum  Bf,  Clostridium botulinum  F,  Clostridium botulinum, Colwellia psychrerythraea, Congregibacter litoralis, Desulfatibacillum alkenivorans, Desulfococcus oleovorans, Desulfotalea psychrophila, Desulfuromonas acetoxidans, Flavobacteriales bacterium, Gemmata obscuriglobus, Geobacter bemidjiensis, Geobacter lovleyi, Geobacter  sp. FRC-32 , Geobacter uraniumreducens, Hahella chejuensis, Jannaschia  sp. CCS1 , Kineococcus radiotolerans, Lentisphaera araneosa, Maricaulis maris, Marinobacter algicola, Marinobacter aquaeolei, Micrococcus luteus, Microscilla marina, Moritella  sp. PE36,  Mycobacterium avium, Mycobacterium avium  subsp.  paratuberculosis, Mycobacterium marinum, Mycobacterium  sp. GP1,  Mycobacterium tuberculosis, Mycobacterium vanbaalenii, Neisseria gonorrhoeae, Nocardia farcinica, Opitutaceae bacterium, Opitutus terrae, Paenibacillus  sp. JDR-2 , Pelobacter propionicus, Photobacterium profundum, Photobacterium profundum, Photorhabdus luminescens  subsp.  laumondii, Planctomyces maris, Plesiocystis pacifica, Pseudoalteromonas atlantica, Psychromonas ingrahamii, Psychromonas  sp. CNPT3,  Ralstonia pickettii, Rhodococcus rhodochrous, Rhodococcus  sp.,  Rhodopirellula baltica, Roseovarius nubinhibens, Shewanella amazonensis, Shewanella baltica, Shewanella benthica, Shewanella denitrificans, Shewanella frigidimarina, Shewanella halifaxensis, Shewanella loihica, Shewanella oneidensis, Shewanella pealeana, Shewanella putrefaciens, Shewanella sediminis, Shewanella  sp. ANA-3,  Shewanella  sp. MR-4,  Shewanella  sp. MR-7,  Shewanella  sp. W3-18-1,  Shewanella woodyi, Stenotrophomonas maltophilia, Streptomyces ambofaciens, Xanthomonas axonopodis, Xanthomonas campestris, Xanthomonas oryzae , and  Xylella fastidiosa.    
     
     
         156 . The genetically engineered organism of any of  claims 150 - 155 , wherein the exogenous nucleic acid sequence increases the expression of the polypeptide encoded by the genomic nucleic acid sequence relative to the expression of the same polypeptide in the organism prior to the incorporation of the exogenous nucleic acid sequence under the same conditions. 
     
     
         157 . The genetically engineered organism of any of  claims 150 - 156 , wherein the organism produces an increased amount of a hydrocarbon relative to the production of a hydrocarbon in a wild-type organism under the same conditions. 
     
     
         158 . A method for identifying an enzyme useful for the production of hydrocarbons comprising:
 transforming a cell comprising polypeptides selected from the group consisting of (a) OleA and OleD, (b) OleA and OleC, and (c) OleC and OleD with a nucleic acid encoding an enzyme suspected of having the ability to produce hydrocarbons; and   determining whether the cell produces hydrocarbons, wherein the existence of hydrocarbon production by the cell indicates that the nucleic acid encodes a polypeptide useful for the production of hydrocarbons.   
     
     
         159 . The method of  claim 158 , wherein the OleA shares at least about 35% sequence identity with SEQ ID NO: 2, SEQ ID NO: 4, SEQ ID NO: 12, or SEQ ID NO: 18; wherein the OleC shares at least about 35% sequence identity with SEQ ID NO: 6, SEQ ID NO: 14, SEQ ID NO: 20, or SEQ ID NO: 88; and wherein the OleD shares at least about 35% sequence identity with SEQ ID NO: 8, SEQ ID NO: 16, or SEQ ID NO: 22. 
     
     
         160 . The method of  claim 158 , wherein the OleA shares at least 50% sequence identity with SEQ ID NO: 2, SEQ ID NO: 4, SEQ ID NO: 12, or SEQ ID NO: 18; wherein the OleC shares at least 50% sequence identity with SEQ ID NO: 6, SEQ ID NO: 14, SEQ ID NO: 20, or SEQ ID NO: 88; and wherein the OleD shares at least 50% sequence identity with SEQ ID NO: 8, SEQ ID NO: 16, or SEQ ID NO: 22. 
     
     
         161 . The method of  claim 158 , wherein the OleA shares at least 80% sequence identity with SEQ ID NO: 2, SEQ ID NO: 4, SEQ ID NO: 12, or SEQ ID NO: 18; wherein the OleC shares at least 80% sequence identity with SEQ ID NO: 6, SEQ ID NO: 14, SEQ ID NO: 20, or SEQ ID NO: 88; and wherein the OleD shares at least 80% sequence identity with SEQ ID NO; 8, SEQ ID NO: 16, or SEQ ID NO: 22. 
     
     
         162 . An isolated polypeptide comprising an amino acid sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO: 6, SEQ ID NO: 14, SEQ ID NO: 20, and SEQ ID NO: 88, wherein the amino acid sequence comprises one or more amino acid substitutions, additions, insertions, or deletions. 
     
     
         163 . The isolated polypeptide of  claim 162 , wherein the polypeptide has adenylating activity. 
     
     
         164 . A genetically engineered organism prepared by (a) providing an organism having a nucleic acid sequence having at least about 35% sequence identity to a nucleic acid sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO: 5, SEQ ID NO: 7, SEQ ID NO: 13, SEQ ID NO: 15, SEQ ID NO: 19, SEQ ID NO: 21, and SEQ ID NO: 87 and (b) deleting or mutating the nucleic acid sequence. 
     
     
         165 . The genetically engineered organism of  claim 164 , wherein the organism is prepared by deleting or mutating a nucleic acid sequence having at least about 80% sequence identity to a nucleic acid sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO: 5, SEQ ID NO: 7, SEQ ID NO: 13, SEQ ID NO: 15, SEQ ID NO: 19, SEQ ID NO: 21, and SEQ ID NO: 87. 
     
     
         166 . The genetically engineered organism of  claim 165 , wherein the organism is prepared by deleting or mutating a nucleic acid sequence having at least about 90% sequence identity to a nucleic acid sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO: 5, SEQ ID NO: 7, SEQ ID NO: 13, SEQ ID NO: 15, SEQ ID NO: 19, SEQ ID NO: 21, and SEQ ID NO: 87. 
     
     
         167 . The genetically engineered organism of  claim 166 , wherein the organism is prepared by deleting or mutating a nucleic acid sequence having at least about 95% sequence identity to a nucleic acid sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO: 5, SEQ ID NO: 7, SEQ ID NO: 13, SEQ ID NO: 15, SEQ ID NO: 19, SEQ ID NO: 21, and SEQ ID NO: 87. 
     
     
         168 . The genetically engineered organism of  claim 167 , wherein the organism is prepared by deleting or mutating a nucleic acid sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO: 5, SEQ ID NO: 7, SEQ ID NO: 13, SEQ ID NO: 15, SEQ ID NO: 19, SEQ ID NO: 21, and SEQ ID NO: 87. 
     
     
         169 . The organism of any of  claims 164 - 168 , wherein the organism is selected from the group consisting of  Anaeromyxobacter  sp. Fw109-5,  Arthrobacter aurescens, Arthrobacter chlorophenolicus, Arthrobacter  sp. FB24 , Bdellovibrio bacteriovorus, Blastopirellula marina, Brevibacterium linens, Burkholderia ambifaria, Burkholderia cenocepacia, Burkholderia oklahomensis, Burkholderia pseudomallei, Burkholderia  sp. 383 , Candidatus Kuenenia stuttgartiensis, Chloroflexus aggregans, Chloroflexus aurantiacus, Clavibacter michiganensis  subsp,  michiganensis, Clavibacter michiganensis  subsp.  Sepedonicus, Clostridium botulinum  A,  Clostridium botulinum  A3,  Clostridium botulinum  B1 , Clostridium botulinum  Bf,  Clostridium botulinum  F,  Clostridium botulinum, Colwellia psychrerythraea, Congregibacter litoralis, Desulfibacillum alkenivorans, Desulfococcus oleovorans, Desulfotalea psychrophila, Desulfuromonas acetoxidans, Flavobacteriales bacterium, Gemmata obscuriglobus, Geobacter bemidjiensis, Geobacter lovleyi, Geobacter  sp. FRC-32 , Geobacter uraniumreducens, Hahella chejuensis, Jannaschia  sp. CCS1 , Kineococcus radiotolerans, Lentisphaera araneosa, Maricaulis maris, Marinobacter algicola, Marinobacter aquaeolei, Micrococcus luteus, Microscilla marina, Moritella  sp. PE36,  Mycobacterium avium, Mycobacterium avium  subsp,  paratuberculosis, Mycobacterium marinum, Mycobacterium  sp. GP1 , Mycobacterium tuberculosis, Mycobacterium vanbaalenii, Neisseria gonorrhoeae, Nocardia farcinica, Opitutaceae bacterium, Opitutus terrae, Paenibacillus  sp. JDR-2 , Pelobacter propionicus, Photobacterium profundum, Photobacterium profundum, Photorhabdus luminescens  subsp.  laumondii, Planctomyces maris, Plesiocystis pacifica, Pseudoalteromonas atlantica, Psychromonas ingrahamii, Psychromonas  sp. CNPT3,  Ralstonia pickettii, Rhodococcus rhodochrous, Rhodococcus  sp.,  Rhodopirellula baltica, Roseovarius nubinhibens, Shewanella amazonensis, Shewanella baltica, Shewanella benthica, Shewanella denitrificans, Shewanella frigidimarina, Shewanella halifaxensis, Shewanella loihica, Shewanella oneidensis, Shewanella pealeana, Shewanella putrefaciens, Shewanella sediminis, Shewanella  sp. ANA-3,  Shewanella  sp. MR-4,  Shewanella  sp. MR-7,  Shewanella  sp. W3-18-1,  Shewanella woodyi, Stenotrophomonas maltophilia, Streptomyces ambofaciens, Xanthomonas axonopodis, Xanthomonas campestris, Xanthomonas oryzae , and  Xylella fastidiosa.    
     
     
         170 . The genetically engineered organism of any of  claims 164 - 169 , wherein the deletion or mutation of the nucleic acid sequence in the organism results in a decreased production of a polypeptide encoded by the nucleic acid sequence relative to the production of the same polypeptide in the organism prior to deletion or mutation of the nucleic acid sequence under the same conditions. 
     
     
         171 . The genetically engineered organism of any of  claims 164 - 170 , wherein the genetically engineered organism produces ketones.