Evolved enzymes and biomimetics for organophosphate degradation

Organophosphates (OPs) are toxic compounds that are a significant threat to the environment and to human health. Bacteria have evolved enzymes that can degrade some OPs, often with modest catalytic efficiencies. We intend to use directed evolution to enhance the catalytic properties of these enzymes. We will also apply a number of physical and chemical techniques to both wild-type and mutant forms of these enzymes to get a better understanding of how they function. The insight gained will also aid the design of biomimetic catalysts that can be used in bioremedial applications.