Paraoxonase

Paraoxonase

Paraoxonases are a group of enzymes involved in the hydrolysis of organophosphates.-History:PON was identified as an enzyme having organophosphates as its substrates. Reports of the geographic differences in population frequencies of paraoxonase activity and genetic analysis led to uncovering the...

 1 (PON1) is a protein-coding gene

Gene

A gene is a molecular unit of heredity of a living organism. It is a name given to some stretches of DNA and RNA that code for a type of protein or for an RNA chain that has a function in the organism. Living beings depend on genes, as they specify all proteins and functional RNA chains...

. The protein

Protein

Proteins are biochemical compounds consisting of one or more polypeptides typically folded into a globular or fibrous form, facilitating a biological function. A polypeptide is a single linear polymer chain of amino acids bonded together by peptide bonds between the carboxyl and amino groups of...

 encoded by this gene has esterase

Esterase

An esterase is a hydrolase enzyme that splits esters into an acid and an alcohol in a chemical reaction with water called hydrolysis.A wide range of different esterases exist that differ in their substrate specificity, their protein structure, and their biological function.- EC classification/list...

 activity.

Function

PON1 is responsible for hydrolyising

Hydrolysis

Hydrolysis is a chemical reaction during which molecules of water are split into hydrogen cations and hydroxide anions in the process of a chemical mechanism. It is the type of reaction that is used to break down certain polymers, especially those made by condensation polymerization...

 organophosphate

Organophosphate

An organophosphate is the general name for esters of phosphoric acid. Phosphates are probably the most pervasive organophosphorus compounds. Many of the most important biochemicals are organophosphates, including DNA and RNA as well as many cofactors that are essential for life...

 pesticides and nerve gasses.

PON1 (paraoxonase

Paraoxonase

Paraoxonases are a group of enzymes involved in the hydrolysis of organophosphates.-History:PON was identified as an enzyme having organophosphates as its substrates. Reports of the geographic differences in population frequencies of paraoxonase activity and genetic analysis led to uncovering the...

 1) is also a major anti-atherosclerotic

Atherosclerosis

Atherosclerosis is a condition in which an artery wall thickens as a result of the accumulation of fatty materials such as cholesterol...

 component of high-density lipoprotein (HDL). The PON1 gene is activated by PPAR-γ

Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma

Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma , also known as the glitazone receptor, or NR1C3 is a type II nuclear receptor that in humans is encoded by the PPARG gene.Two isoforms of PPARG are detected in the human and in the mouse: PPAR-γ1 and...

, which increases synthesis and release of paraoxonase

Paraoxonase

Paraoxonases are a group of enzymes involved in the hydrolysis of organophosphates.-History:PON was identified as an enzyme having organophosphates as its substrates. Reports of the geographic differences in population frequencies of paraoxonase activity and genetic analysis led to uncovering the...

 1 enzyme from the liver, reducing atherosclerosis

Atherosclerosis

Atherosclerosis is a condition in which an artery wall thickens as a result of the accumulation of fatty materials such as cholesterol...

.

Further reading