Nitrilase that hydrolyzes preferentially phenylacetonitrile and (R,S)-mandelonitrile. Also acts on dinitriles like phenylenediacetonitriles (PDAs) 1,2-PDA, 1,3-PDA, and 1,4-PDA, and cyanophenyl acetonitriles (CPAs) 2-CPA and 4-CPA. a nitrile + 2 H2O = a carboxylate + NH4(+) 4-chlorophenylacetonitrile + 2 H2O = 4-chlorophenylacetate + NH4(+) Belongs to the carbon-nitrogen hydrolase superfamily. Nitrilase family.