Esterase arylesterases

Mackness, M.I., Thompson, H.M., and Walker, C.H. (1987). Distinction between A esterases and arylesterases and implications for esterase classification. Biochemical Journal 245, 293-296. 

Arylesterase Aryl-ester hydrolase, A-esterase Aromatic esters... 

The mechanism by which A-esterases hydrolyze organophosphates is not completely understood. Involvement of a phosphorylated active-site cysteine and displacement of an activated H20 molecule are two possible hypotheses (see Sect. 3.7.1) [56], A-Esterases comprise enzymes that hydrolyze aryl esters, paraoxon (2.2) and related organophosphate pesticides, and diisopropyl-fluorophosphate (DFP, diisopropyl phosphorofluoridate, 2.3) and related compounds, including nerve gases. These enzymes are found in the current nomenclature listed under arylesterases, aryldialkylphosphatase, and diisop-ropyl-fluorophosphatase. 

K. N. Gan, A. Smolen, H. W. Eckerson, B. N. La Du, Purification of Human Serum Paraoxonase/Arylesterase. Evidence for One Esterase Catalyzing Both Activities , Drug Metab. Dispos. 1991,19, 100-106. 

Phosphinates are a class of organophosphorus compounds, the metabolism of which has received less attention than that of phosphates (see above) or phosphorothioates and P-halidc compounds (see below). Many phosphinates are rapid but transient inhibitors of acetylcholinesterase and carboxyl-esterases. And like organophosphates and phosphonates, phosphinates are substrates of arylesterases (EC 3.1.1.2). This is exemplified by 4-nitrophen-yl ethyl(phenyl)phosphinate (9.62), whose (-)-enantiomer was hydrolyzed by rabbit serum arylesterase almost 10 times faster than the (+)-enantiomer [133],... 

Various esterases exist in mammalian tissues, hydrolyzing different types of esters. They have been classified as type A, B, or C on the basis of activity toward phosphate triesters. A-esterases, which include arylesterases, are not inhibited by phosphotriesters and will metabolize them by hydrolysis. Paraoxonase is a type A esterase (an organophosphatase). B-esterases are inhibited by paraoxon and have a serine group in the active site (see chap. 7). Within this group are carboxylesterases, cholinesterases, and arylamidases. C-esterases are also not inhibited by paraoxon, and the preferred substrates are acetyl esters, hence these are acetylesterases. Carboxythioesters are also hydrolyzed by esterases. Other enzymes such as trypsin and chymotrypsin may also hydrolyze certain carboxyl esters. 

Gan, K.N., et al. 1991. Purification of human serum paraoxonase/arylesterase. Evidence for one esterase catalyzing both activities. Drug Metab Dispos 19 100. 

Although several reports concerning esterases in milk have appeared in the literature, little detailed information on the individual enzymes is available. Arylesterase or A-esterase (EC 3.1.1.2), carboxylesterase or B-esterase (EC 3.1.1.1), and cholinesterase or C-esterase (EC 3.1.1.7 EC 3.1.1.8) have been identified (Forster et al., 1961 Kitchen, 1971 Nakanishi and Tagata, 1972 Deeth, 1978). 

Tissue esterases have been divided into two classes the A-type esterases, which are insensitive, and the B-type esterases, which are sensitive to inhibition by organo-phosphorus esters. The A esterases include the arylesterases, whereas the B esterases include cholinesterases of plasma, acetylcholinesterases of erythrocytes and nervous tissue, carboxylesterases, lipases, and so on. The nonspecific arylesterases that hydrolyze short-chain aromatic esters are activated by Ca2+ ions and are responsible for the hydrolysis of certain organophosphate triesters such as paraoxon (Figure 10.10B). 

Many pesticides are esters or amides that can be activated or inactivated by hydrolysis. The enzymes that catalyze the hydrolysis of pesticides that are esters or amides are esterases and amidases. These enzymes have the amino acid serine or cysteine in the active site. The catalytic process involves a transient acylation of the OH or SH group in serin or cystein. The organo-phosphorus and carbamate insecticides acylate OH groups irreversibly and thus inhibit a number of hydrolases, although many phosphorylated or carbamoylated esterases are deacylated very quickly, and so serve as hydrolytic enzymes for these compounds. An enzyme called arylesterase splits paraoxon into 4-nitrophenol and diethyl-phosphate. This enzyme has cysteine in the active site and is inhibited by mercury(ll) salts. Arylesterase is present in human plasma and is important to reduce the toxicity of paraoxon that nevertheless is very toxic. A paraoxon-splitting enzyme is also abundant in earthworms and probably contributes to paraoxon s low earthworm toxicity. Malathion has low mammalian toxicity because a carboxyl esterase that can use malathion as a substrate is abundant in the mammalian liver. It is not present in insects, and this is the reason for the favorable selectivity index of this pesticide. 

Many individuals have genetic susceptibility to certain chemicals (Calabrese 1978). The influence of these genetic differences likely produces sub- and supersensitivity to OP insecticides and warfare agents (Russell and Overstreet 1987). Several enzymes with variations or polymorphisms control sensitivity to OPs red blood cell acetylcholinesterase, serum cholinesterase or pseudocholinesterase, lymphocyte neuropathy target esterase or platelet neuropathy target esterase (NTE), serum paroxonase, butyrylcholinesterase, and serum arylesterase (Costa et al. 1999 LaDu 1988 Li et al. 1993 Mutch et al. 1992). Inhibition of red blood cell acetylcholinesterase, in both the central and the peripheral nervous systems, produces acute symptoms (Mutch et al. 1992). Paroxonase and arylesterase further modify the response (LaDu 1988 Li et al. 1993). Variant, inactive butyrylcho-linesterases increase sensitivity to OPs (Lockridge and Masson 2000 Schwarz et al. 1995). OP-induced delayed polyneuropathy results... 

The hydrolysis of the carbamates is catalyzed, both in vitro and in vivo, by A-esterases or arylesterases. 

Plasma esterases such as cholinesterase and arylesterases are involved in the hydrolysis of some xenobiotics and may affect the elimination of some compounds. Carboxylesterases appear to be absent from some laboratory animals, but are present in rats and guinea pigs and may also play a part in the hydrolysis of xenobiotics (Williams 1987). 

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