The enzyme glycerophosphodiester phosphodiesterase ({EC 3.1.4.46) catalyzes the general reaction

a glycerophosphodiester + H2O an alcohol + sn-glycerol 3-phosphate

For example, the enzyme characterised from Escherichia coli hydrolyses glycerophosphorylcholine into its components, sn-glycerol 3-phosphate and choline:

This is the same reaction as catalysed by glycerophosphocholine phosphodiesterase (EC 3.1.4.2).

This enzyme is a hydrolase, specifically one acting on phosphoric diester bonds. The systematic name is glycerophosphodiester glycerophosphohydrolase. Other names in common use include gene hpd protein, glycerophosphoryl diester phosphodiesterase, and IgD-binding protein D.

References