Abstract: In some embodiments, the present invention relates to isolated enzymes useful in reducing a fatty acyl-CoA to a corresponding fatty alcohol in a single biosynthetic step, polynucleotides encoding the enzymes, and methods for making and using these polynucleotides and enzymes. In some embodiments, the invention provides for isolated or recombinant enzymes capable of reducing a fatty acyl-CoA to a fatty alcohol. In still another embodiment, the invention provides for isolated or recombinant polynucleotides encoding an enzyme capable of reducing a fatty acyl-CoA to a fatty alcohol. In other embodiments, the invention provides for methods of making or using enzymes capable of reducing fatty acyl-CoA to a fatty alcohol, and methods of making using polynucleotides that encode the enzymes.