A Thermophilic Bacterial Esterase for Scavenging Nerve Agents: A Kinetic, Biophysical and Structural Study.

ABSTRACT: Organophosphorous nerve agents (OPNA) pose an actual and major threat for both military and civilians alike, as an upsurge in their use has been observed in the recent years. Currently available treatments mitigate the effect of the nerve agents, and could be vastly improved by means of scavengers of the nerve agents. Consequently, efforts have been made over the years into investigating enzymes, also known as bioscavengers, which have the potential either to trap or hydrolyze these toxic compounds. We investigated the previously described esterase 2 from Thermogutta terrifontis (TtEst2) as a potential bioscavenger of nerve agents. As such, we assessed its potential against G-agents (tabun, sarin, and cyclosarin), VX, as well as the pesticide paraoxon. We report that TtEst2 is a goo

SUBMITTER: Bzdrenga J 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7865465 | biostudies-literature | 2021 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature