Natural Role of the OPA Anhydrases

An enzymatic activity that phylogenetically is as widespread as that of the OPA anhydrases must be important to the cellular metabolism and the survival of the organism. The strength of the selective pressure for the opd OPA anhydrase is evident divergent plasmids in Psuedomonas and Flavobacterium share identical opd gene sequences. The widespread nature of the OPA anhydrases 

Natural substances similar to the substrates of the OPA anhydrases. AEP, naturally synthesized, is an organophosphate analog to the amino acid /3-alanine. Several naturally synthesized fluo-rometabolites are known, fluoroacetate and fluorocitrate being two examples. OPA anhydrases may be involved in the metabolism of these or similar compounds. 

Aldridge, W.N. 1989. A-esterases and B-esterases in perspective. In Enzymes Hydrolyzing Organophosphorus Compounds, E. Reiner, W.N. Aldridge, and F.C.G. Hoskin, Eds. Ellis Horwood, Chichester, U.K., pp. 1-14. 

Anderson, R.S., H.D. Durst, and W.G. Landis. 1988. Organofluorophosphate-hydrolyzing activity in an estuarine clam, Rangia cuneata. Comp. Biochem. Physiol. 91C 575-578. 

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