Expression and subcellular localization of organophosphate hydrolase in acephate‐degrading P seudomonas sp. strain I nd01 and its use as a potential biocatalyst for elimination of organophosphate insecticides

Organophosphate hydrolase ( OPH ), the product of an organophosphate‐degrading ( opd ) gene cloned from B revundimonas diminuta , hydrolyses the triester linkage found in neurotoxic organophosphate ( OP ) insecticides and nerve agents. Despite the fact that OPH s have a broad substrate range, OP compounds with a P ‐ S linkage, such as insecticides like acephate, are poor substrates for the enzyme. Expression of OPH in acephate‐utilizing P seudomonas sp. I nd01 generated a live biocatalyst capable of degrading a wide range of OP insecticides. The heterologously expressed OPH , which is a substrate of twin arginine transport ( T at) pathway, successfully targeted to the membrane of P seudomonas sp. I nd01. The membrane‐associated OPH had a size that coincided with the mature form of OPH (m OPH ), suggesting successful processing and targeting of the expressed OPH to the membrane. P seudomonas sp. Ind01 expressing OPH degraded a variety of OP insecticides besides using acephate as sole carbon source. Significance and Impact of the Study A biocatalyst capable of degrading a wide range of organophosphate ( OP ) insecticides was generated by expressing an organophosphate degradation gene in P seudomonas sp. I nd01 involved in mineralization of acephate. The biocatalyst can be used to eliminate a wide range of OP insecticide residues from the environment.