A recombinant microorganism employing a bacterial pathway to produce a cyclic amino acid (e.g., coronamic acid or norcoronamic acid) and a plant enzyme (ACC oxidase) to oxidize the amino acid and produce an alkene (e.g., 1-butene or propene) is provided herein. Expression of these two biosynthetic modules in various microbial chassis will facilitate alkene production from diverse energy and carbon sources, including sugars, glycerol, CO2, CH4, H2, and sunlight.