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Hydrolysis of organophosphorus compounds by microbial enzymes

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Abstract

There are classes of microbial enzymes that have the ability to degrade harmful organophosphorus (OP) compounds that are present in some pesticides and nerve agents. To date, the most studied and potentially important OP-degrading enzymes are organophosphorus hydrolase (OPH) and organophosphorus acid anhydrolase (OPAA), which have both been characterized from a number of organisms. Here we provide an update of what is experimentally known about OPH and OPAA to include their structures, substrate specificity, and catalytic properties. Current and future potential applications of these enzymes in the hydrolysis of OP compounds are also addressed.

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Acknowledgments

The authors thank Dr. Sherry Tove for her helpful comments on the manuscript. We also thank Dr. Joseph DeFrank and Saumil Shah from the US Army, Edgewood Chemical Biological Center, for helpful discussion on the use of OP compound-degrading enzymes for CWA decontamination. Support for some of the studies described in this review was provided by the Army Research Office (contract number 44258LSSR).

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  1. Department of Microbiology, North Carolina State University, 4548 Thomas Hall, Campus Box 7615, Raleigh, NC, 27695-7615, USA

    Casey M. Theriot

  2. Department of Microbiology, North Carolina State University, 4550A Thomas Hall, Campus Box 7615, Raleigh, NC, 27695-7615, USA

    Amy M. Grunden

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  1. Casey M. Theriot
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Correspondence to Amy M. Grunden.

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Theriot, C.M., Grunden, A.M. Hydrolysis of organophosphorus compounds by microbial enzymes. Appl Microbiol Biotechnol 89, 35–43 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00253-010-2807-9

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