Walker_1993_Chem.Biol.Interact_87_17

In the IUB classification of 1984, enzymes which hydrolyse paraoxon and other organophosphorous triesters were included in the category of arylesterases--enzymes which hydrolyse phenylacetate (EC 3.1.1.2). With the discovery that some forms of paraoxonase do not hydrolyse phenylacetate, a new entry was made in the revised classification of 1989, Aryldialkylphosphatase (EC 3.1.8.1) under phosphoric triester hydrolases (EC 3.1.8), to distinguish these enzymes from arylesterases. Also some enzymes that hydrolyse phenylacetate do not hydrolyse paraoxon, whereas other enzymes do. Additionally, there is growing evidence for the existence of a number of enzymes which hydrolyse P-F or P-CN bonds of organophosphorous diesters e.g., the nerve gases tabun and soman. These enzymes are in effect organophosphorous acid anhydrolases, and it has been proposed that the earlier entry of (EC 3.8.2.1) now be deleted, and a new entry diisoprophylfluorophosphatase (EC 3.1.8.2) put in its place. Within this category, there is evidence of several enzymes showing different substrate specificities, and different requirements for divalent cations as cofactors, which presents further problems of classification and nomenclature.