Gholamreza Farnoosh - Applied Biotechnology Research Center, Baqiyatallah University of Medical Sciences, Tehran Iran
Ali Mohammad Latifi - Applied Biotechnology Research Center, Baqiyatallah University of Medical Sciences, Tehran Iran

Organophosphorus chemicals are compounds which have been used as pesticidesand insecticides in agriculture. They’re also used as nervous agents and have raisedmany problems for human and environment. Among the most important methods ofdecontamination from these compounds are biodegradation methods. Using OPHenzyme in degradation the mentioned compounds is seen as one of the desirableways, but low activity and specification and low thermostability are among factorssignificantly decreasing the optimal application of this enzyme. Using methods ofprotein engineering based on the alteration of specific protein positions in order toimprove the activity, specification and thermostability are some common ways usedcurrently. Numerous studies have been done to increase activity and thermostabilityof OPH enzyme with alteration of some special amino acids the result of which wasan increase against different substrates. OPH enzyme active site connected to substratesthat consisted of three large, small and releasing packets were one of the goalareas of changing amino acids used by researchers to improve engineered activities.Among other ways of making enzymes more rigid and stable were bending loops byreplacing Proline, creating disulfide bonds, ionic bonds by replacing charged aminoacids.

Organophosphorus, Protein engineering, Thermostability