Organophosphorous acid anhydrase

The potential use of foams has also been demonstrated for the decontamination of nerve agents [80]. In these applications, the detoxification of the nerve agent was carried out by immobilizing the enzyme organophosphorous acid anhydrase within either a fire fighting or blast-containment foam carrier. 

A few brief notes are added on phosphorofluoridates even though their destruction by microbial activity — although clearly possible — may be limited by their toxicity to the requisite microorganisms. One of the motivations for their inclusion is the fact that the hydrolytic enzyme(s) responsible for defluorination — organophosphorous acid anhydrase (OPA) — is widespread, and is found in a number of bacteria (Landis and DeFrank 1990). The microbial hydrolysis of organophosphorus pesticides and cholinesterase inhibitors is accomplished by several distinct enzymes, all of which are termed organophosphorus acid anhydrolases. These have been reviewed (DeFrank 1991) so that only a few additional comments are justified. 

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