Phosphotriesterases

Aryldialkylphosphatase - Wikipedia

Aryldialkylphosphatase (EC 3.1.8.1, also known as phosphotriesterase, organophosphate hydrolase, parathion hydrolase, paraoxonase, and parathion aryl esterase; systematic name aryltriphosphate dialkylphosphohydrolase) is a metalloenzyme that hydrolyzes the triester linkage^[1] found in organophosphate insecticides:

an aryl dialkyl phosphate + H₂O ⇌ dialkyl phosphate + an aryl alcohol

The gene (opd, for organophosphate-degrading) that codes for the enzyme is found in a large plasmid (pSC1, 51Kb) endogenous to Pseudomonas diminuta,^[2] although the gene has also been found in many other bacterial species such as Flavobacterium sp. (ATCC27551), where it is also encoded in an extrachromosomal element (pSM55, 43Kb).^[2]

Organophosphate is the general name for esters of phosphoric acid and is one of the organophosphorus compounds.

They can be found as part of insecticides, herbicides, and nerve gases, amongst others.

Some less-toxic organophosphates can be used as solvents, plasticizers, and EP additives.

The use of organophosphates accounts for approximately 38% of all pesticide use globally.^[3]