A comparative study of amino acid sequence and physicochemical properties indicates the affiliation of an amidase from Rhodococcus rhodochrous M8 (EC 3.5.1.4) to the nitrilase/cyanide hydratase family. Cluster analysis and multiple alignments show that Cys166 is an active site nucleophile. The enzyme has been shown to be a typical aliphatic amidase, being the most active toward short-chain linear amides. Small polar molecules such as hydroxylamine and O-methyl hydroxylamine can serve as effective external nucleophiles in acyl transfer reactions. The kinetics of the industrially important amidase-catalyzed acrylamide hydrolysis has been studied over a wide range of substrate concentrations; inhibition during enzymatic hydrolysis by the substrate and product (acrylic acid) has been observed; an adequate kinetic scheme has been evaluated and the corresponding kinetic parameters have been determined.