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.
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