Biodegradation of organophosphorus insecticides by two organophosphorus hydrolase genes (opdA and opdE) from isolated Leuconostoc mesenteroides WCP307 of kimchi origin

We previously reported that lactic acid bacteria degraded organophosphate insecticides (OP) during yeulmu-mulkimchi fermentation. In this study, we aimed to isolate OP insecticide-degrading gene from Leu. mesenteroides WCP907. We cloned two organophosphorus hydrolase genes from Leu. mesenteroides WCP907 using a PCR-based technique and expressed them in E. coli. [Display omitted] •The opdA (930 bp, 309 aa) and opdE (894 bp, 297 aa) genes were cloned from Leconostoc mesenteriodes WCP907.•Esc. coli harboring opdA and opdE genes depleted 72% and 83% chlorpyrifos in M9 medium after 6 days.•The OpdA and OpdE represented MW 35 and 33 kDa, optimum temperature 30 and 30 °C, optimum pH 6 and 7, respectively.•The Ser128 of OpdA and Ser129 of OpdE are the essential amino acids for catalysis.•The opdA and opdE are the first reports of opd gene from Leuconostoc genus. This study is aimed to reveal the molecular incidence of organophosphorus insecticides degradation during the fermentation of Korean food yeulmu-mulkimchi. To this end, two opdA and opdE which consist of 930 and 894 bp that encode 309 and 297 amino acids, respectively, were cloned from the Leuconostoc mesenteroides WCP307 strain that was isolated from chlorpyrifos (CP) impregnated kimchi. The Escherichia coli that harbored the opdA and opdE genes depleted a CP concentration of 72% and 83%, respectively, in an M9 medium after 6 days. The OpdA and OpdE enzymes molecular weights were estimated to be approximately 35 and 33 kDa and showed optimal activities at 30 °C with a pH of 7.0 and 6.0, respectively. However, the mutated OpdA (Ser128 → Ala128) and OpdE (Ser129 → Ala129) enzymes had no activities on OP insecticides and ρ-nitrophenyl butyrate substrates. In addition, the OpdA and OpdE enzymes showed profound catalytic activities against cadusafos, comnaphos, diazinon, dyfonate, ethoprophos, fenamiphos, methylparathion, and parathion insecticides. Therefore, it is assumed that OpdA and OpdE enzymes detoxified the pesticides contaminated kimchi composition like Chinese cabbages during fermentation. Furthermore, the OpdA and OpdE enzymes augmented the diversity of new LAB-opd enzymes group in nature.