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Background: Organophosphorus compound (OPC) poisoning is an important clinical problem in the developing world and kills an estimated 3,00,000 people every year. In spite of high case fatality rate early and proper management is crucial to save the lives and alleviate the sufferings. Amylase level is an important biochemical marker, which is closely related to severity of acute OPC poisoning. Therefore, to assess Serum amylase level in acute organophosphorus compound poisoning in a tertiary level hospital was the objective of the study. Methods: This research was a hospital based descriptive cross-sectional study and was conducted at the inpatient department of Medicine in Dhaka Medical College. 50 Patient admitted in medicine department due to OPC poisoning and evidenced by history taking and physical examination were included in the study. Ethical issues were ensured properly. After written informed consent history and physical examination were done. Rest of the data were collected by interviewing each patient or from attendant of the patient by using a semi-structured questionnaire. Scoring of the severity were done by researcher himself by Peradeniya Organophosphorus Poisoning (POP) scale (Score range 0 to 11). Values of amylase level were collected from patient record file. All the Data was analysed by computer with the help of SPSS 16. Results: Out of a total of 50 patients, 24 (48%) were males and 26 (52%) were females. OPC poisoning was most frequent (52%) in age group 21-30 years. Mean age was 23.96 ± 6.071 SD. 96% (48) study population were Muslim and rest 4 % (2) were Hindus with diverse occupation. 86% population came from rural area whereas only 14% population reside in urban area. Among them suicidal attempts were seen significantly which was 96% and rest of them were accidental ingestion. Amylase level estimation were done in each case and 32 % (16) patient had elevated amylase level (>100U/L) and 68% (34) patient had amylase level within normal limit. Mean amylase concentration was 62.2U/L (SD±18.77) and among the 16 patients who had elevated serum amylase level mean concentration was 376.56U/L (SD±266.124). Mean amylase level differed significantly between these two groups (p value < 0.0001) estimated by one way ANOVA. Spearman Correlation and One way ANOVA both showed significant association between severity (assessed by POP scale) and elevated level of serum amylase (p value

Recently, quantitative NMR (qNMR), especially 1H-qNMR, has been widely used to determine the absolute quantitative value of organic molecules. We previously reported an optimal and reproducible sample preparation method for 1H-qNMR. In the present study, we focused on a 31P-qNMR absolute determination method. An organophosphorus compound, cyclophosphamide hydrate (CP), listed in the Japanese Pharmacopeia 17th edition was selected as the target compound, and the 31P-qNMR and 1H-qNMR results were compared under three conditions with potassium dihydrogen phosphate (KH2PO4) or O-phosphorylethanolamine (PEA) as the reference standard for 31P-qNMR and sodium 4,4-dimethyl-4-silapentanesulfonate-d6 (DSS-d6) as the standard for 1H-qNMR. Condition 1: separate sample containing CP and KH2PO4 for 31P-qNMR or CP and DSS-d6 for 1H-qNMR. Condition 2: mixed sample containing CP, DSS-d6, and KH2PO4. Condition 3: mixed sample containing CP, DSS-d6, and PEA. As conditions 1 and 3 provided good results, validation studies at multiple laboratories were further conducted. The purities of CP determined under condition 1 by 1H-qNMR at 11 laboratories and 31P-qNMR at 10 laboratories were 99.76 ± 0.43 and 99.75 ± 0.53%, respectively, and those determined under condition 3 at five laboratories were 99.66 ± 0.08 and 99.61 ± 0.53%, respectively. These data suggested that the CP purities determined by 31P-qNMR are in good agreement with those determined by the established 1H-qNMR method. Since the 31P-qNMR signals are less complicated than the 1H-qNMR signals, 31P-qNMR would be useful for the absolute quantification of compounds that do not have a simple and separate 1H-qNMR signal, such as a singlet or doublet, although further investigation with other compounds is needed.

In this study, a carboxymethyldextran chip based sensor system is developed that selectively recognizes and binds nerve agent molecules used in chemical weapons. Nerve agents fall under the group of organophosphorus compounds and irreversibly inhibit the acetylcholinesterase enzyme (AChE). In this study, parathion was used as an organophosphorus compound. The effect of the parathion molecule on enzyme inhibition is similar to nerve agents. The first step to be applied before CMD (Carboxymethyldextran) chip surface enzyme immobilization is the surface activation. After the surface activation was completed, AChE enzyme solution was passed over the chip surface for 40 minutes. In this way, enzyme immobilization was performed on the chip surface and a surface selective to the parathion molecule was obtained. Analysis was performed for parathion samples in different concentrations in the range of 3.43x10-8-6.86x10-4 mol/L. When the analysis results were transferred to the calibration graph, a graphic close to the linear was obtained. The working range of the chip surface developed as a result of the analyzes was calculated as 3.43x10-8 - 6.86x10-4, the limit of detection (LOD) value was 3.79x10-8 and the limit of quantification (LOQ) value was 6.16x10-8. These results show that samples containing parathion at very low concentrations can be analyzed using the method we have developed.

Organophosphorus pesticides are widely utilized in agricultural fertility. However, their long-term accumulations result in serious damage to human health and ecological balance. Paraoxon (PAR) can block acetylcholinesterase in the human body, resulting in death. Thus, in this study, a molecularly imprinted electrochemical PAR sensor based on multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs)/molybdenum disulfide nanoparticles (MoS(2)NPs) nanocomposite (MoS(2)NPs@MWCNTs) was proposed for selective tap water determination. A hydrothermal fabrication approach was firstly implemented to prepare MoS(2)NPs@MWCNTs nanocomposite. Afterwards, the formation of PAR imprinted electrochemical electrode was performed on nanocomposite modified glassy carbon electrode (GCE) in presence of PAR as template and pyrrole (Py) as a monomer by cyclic voltammetry (CV) technique. Just after determining the physicochemical features of as-fabricated nanostructures by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), x-ray diffraction (XRD), Raman spectros-copy, and atomic force microscopy (AFM), the electrochemical behavior of the fabricated sensors was deter-mined through CV, differential pulse voltammetry (DPV), and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS). The suggested imprinted electrode provided the acceptable limit of quantification (LOQ) and limit of detection (LOD) values of 1.0 x 10(-11) M, and 2.0 x 10(-12) M, respectively. As a consequence, the proposed PAR imprinted electrochemical sensor can be offered for the determining safe tap water and its utility.

To obtain fiber materials with pronounced chemical-biological protection, metal (Zn or Ta) nanoparticles were jointly applied with polyelectrolyte complexes of enzymes and polypeptides being their stabilizers. Computer modeling revealed the preferences between certain polyelectrolyte partners for N-acyl-homoserine lactone acylase and hexahistidine-tagged organophosphorus hydrolase (His6-OPH) possessing the quorum quenching (QQ) behavior with bacterial cells. The combinations of metal nanoparticles and enzymes appeared to function better as compared to the combinations of the same QQ-enzymes with antibiotics (polymyxins), making it possible to decrease the applied quantities by orders of magnitude while giving the same effect. The elimination of Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacterial cells from doubly modified fiber materials notably increased (up to 2.9-fold), whereas His6-OPH retained its hydrolytic activity in reaction with organophosphorus compounds (up to 74% of initially applied activity). Materials with the certain enzyme and Zn nanoparticles were more efficient against Bacillus subtilis cells (up to 2.1-fold), and Ta nanoparticles acted preferentially against Escherichia coli (up to 1.5-fold). Some materials were proved to be more suitable for combined modification by metal nanoparticles and His6-OPH complexes as antimicrobial protectants.

Coumaphos is an organophosphorus compound used as insecticide and frequently used by beekeepers for the management of parasitic mites. The most important metabolite, chlorferron (CFN), has been identified in biological samples and foodstuff. The need to quickly identify the presence of typical metabolites, as an indication of interaction with coumaphos has driven the need to produce a highly sensitive electrochemical method for chlorferron analysis, based on molecularly imprinting polymers (MIP) technology. It showed irreversible behaviour with mixed diffusion/adsorption-controlled reactions at the electrode surface. A monoelectronic mechanism of reaction for oxidation has also been suggested. The linear range observed was from 0.158 to 75 µM. Median precision in terms of %RSD around 3% was also observed. For DPV, the limit of detection (LOD) and the limit of quantitation (LOQ) for the CFN-MIP were 0.158 µM and 0.48 µM, respectively. The obtained median % recovery was around 98%. The results were also validated to reference values obtained using GC-MS. Urine and human synthetic plasma spiked with CFN were used to demonstrate the usability of the method in biological samples, showing the potential for biomonitoring. The developed imprinted sensor showed maximum signal change less than 16.8% when related metabolites or pesticide were added to the mix, suggesting high selectivity of the MIP sensor toward CFN molecules. The results from in vitro metabolism of CMP analysed also demonstrates the potential for detection and quantification of CFN in environmental samples. The newly developed CFN-MIP sensor offers similar LoDs than chromatographic methods with shorter analysis time.

Phosphinate pseudopeptide are analogs of peptides containing phosphinate moiety in a place of the amide bond. Due to this, the organophosphorus fragment resembles the tetrahedral transition state of the amide bond hydrolysis. Additionally, it is also capable of coordinating metal ions, for example, zinc or magnesium ions. These two properties of phosphinate pseudopeptides make them an ideal candidate for metal-related protease inhibitors. This research investigates the influence of additional residue in the P2 position on the inhibitory properties of phosphinopeptides. The synthetic strategy is proposed, based on retrosynthetic analysis. The N-C-P bond formation in the desired compounds is conveniently available from the three-component condensation of appropriate amino components, aldehydes, and hypophosphorous acid. One of the crucial synthetic steps is the careful selection of the protecting groups for all the functionals. Determination of the inhibitor activity of the obtained compounds has been done using UV-Vis spectroscopy and standard substrate L-Leu-p-nitroanilide toward the enzymes isolated from the porcine kidney (SsLAP, Sus scrofa Leucine aminopeptidase) and barley seeds (HvLAP, Hordeum vulgare Leucine aminopeptidase). An efficient procedure for the preparation of phosphinotripeptides has been performed. Activity test shown that introduction of additional residue into P2 position obtains the micromolar range inhibitors of SsLAP and HvLAP. Moreover, careful selection of the residue in the P2 position should improve its selectivity toward mammalian and plant leucyl aminopeptidases. This research was funded by the Polish Ministry of Science and Higher Education (PMSHE) for the Faculty of Chemistry of Wrocław University of Science and Technology and by Wroclaw Research Center EIT+ under the project “Biotechnologies and advanced medical technologies—BioMed”, grant number POIG 01.01.02-02-003/08-00, 00 financed from the European Regional Development Fund (Operational Programme Innovative Economy, 1.1.2. B. O. is recipient of a Ph.D. fellowship from a project funded by the European Social Found. Financial support by the Ministerio de Ciencia, Innovación y Universidades (MCIU), Agencia Estatal de Investigación (AEI) y Fondo Europeo de Desarrollo Regional (FEDER) (RTI2018-101818-B-I00, UE), and Gobierno Vasco (GV), (IT 992-16) is gratefully acknowledged.

In previous experiments, human and rat small bowel samples have been successfully used to study the spasmolytic effect of (potential) therapeutics in carbamate-constricted bowel specimens. Additionally, transferability from rat to human data was shown in the previous study. In the present study, the effects of atropine, scopolamine, MB327, HI-6 as well as obidoxime were examined in organophosphorus-poisoned human small bowel specimens. All substances were tested with at least seven concentrations in samples previously exposed to the nerve agent sarin. Furthermore, the cholinesterase reactivation potential of all substances was investigated. The test substances displayed a spasmolytic effect allowing the calculation of dose-response curves and EC50s. The parasympatholytic compound scopolamine had the strongest relaxing effect (EC50 = 0.05 μM) followed by atropine (EC50 = 0.07 μM). HI-6 and obidoxime were capable to reactivate the sarin-inhibited cholinesterase activity in small bowel samples. Both substances restored AChE activity in a dose-dependent way, with HI-6 being more potent (HI-6 EC50 = 3.8 μM vs obidoxime EC50 = 197.8 μM). Summarizing, our isolated human small bowel setup is a suitable tool to investigate the smooth muscle relaxing effect of (candidate) therapeutics for organophosphorus compound poisoning i.e. sarin exposure in a complex 3D tissue model.

Organophosphorus nerve agents (OPNAs), including both G- and V-type nerve agents such as sarin, soman, tabun and VX, are extremely neurotoxic organophosphorus compounds. Catalytic bioscavengers capable of hydrolyzing OPNAs are under development because of the low protective effects and adverse side effects of chemical antidotes to OPNA poisoning. However, these bioscavengers have certain limitations for practical application, including low catalytic activity and narrow specificity. In this study, we generated a fusion-hybrid form of engineered recombinant human paraoxonase 1 (rePON1) and bacterial organophosphorus hydrolase (OPH), referred to as GV-hybrids, using a flexible linker to develop more promising catalytic bioscavengers against a broad range of OPNAs. These GV-hybrids were able to synergistically hydrolyze both G-type OPNA analogs (paraoxon: 1.7 ~ 193.7-fold, p-nitrophenyl diphenyl phosphate (PNPDPP): 2.3 ~ 33.0-fold and diisopropyl fluorophosphates (DFP): 1.4 ~ 22.8-fold) and V-type OPNA analogs (demeton-Smethyl (DSM): 1.9 ~ 34.6-fold and malathion: 1.1 ~ 4.2-fold above) better than their individual enzyme forms. Among the GV-hybrid clones, the GV7 clone showed remarkable improvements in the catalytic activity toward both G-type OPNA analogs (kcat/Km (106 M-1 min-1): 59.8 ± 0.06 (paraoxon), 5.2 ± 0.02 (PNPDPP) and 47.0 ± 6.0 (DFP)) and V-type OPNA analogs (kcat/Km (M-1 min-1): 504.3 ± 48.5 (DSM) and 1324.0 ± 47.5 (malathion)). In conclusion, we developed GV-hybrid forms of rePON1 and bacterial OPH mutants as effective and suitable catalytic bioscavengers to hydrolyze a broad range of OPNA analogs.

Tri-ortho-cresyl phosphate (TOCP) has been used commercially as a plasticizer and a flame retardant, which has been reported to cause multiple toxicities in humans and other animals. However, the effect of TOCP on female reproductive system is still unclear. The aim of this investigation was to evaluate the reproductive toxicity of TOCP in female avian and investigate its molecular mechanism. In the current study, 50 adult hens were given a single oral dose of TOCP (750 mg/kg). Egg laid by the hens were harvested and counted. Egg quality is assessed by determining the shell strength and thickness. Samples of ovary, shell gland, and serum were collected on day 0, 2, 7, and 21 after the administration. The morphological and pathological changes in tissues were examined. Cell death, follicular development, and steroidogenesis were determined to assess the toxicity of TOCP on laying hens. The results showed that egg production, egg weight, and eggshell strength significantly decreased after TOCP exposure. The calcium levels in serum and eggshell decreased and the expression levels of the eggshell formation-related genes calbindin-D28k (CaBP-D28k) and carbonic anhydrase 2 (CA2) were downregulated. The inhibitory effects of TOCP on follicular development and steroidogenesis were observed with changes in the levels of the related proteins such as forkhead box O1 (FoxO1) and mothers against decapentaplegic homolog 2/3 (Smad2/3). Cell death was identified, which might lead to follicular development disorder. Taken together, TOCP reduced the quantity and quality of the eggs laid by the hens through disrupting follicular development, steroidogenesis, and shell gland function.

The effect of 14 different antioxidants on the activity of a hexahistidine-tagged organophosphorus hydrolase (His6-OPH) has been studied in vitro. It has been found that antioxidants can have a positive, neutral or negative effect on the activity of His6-OPH in a native form or in the form of an enzyme-polyelectrolyte complex, while the enzyme itself does not affect their antioxidant activity. A significant stabilizing effect of a number of antioxidants on His6-OPH has been shown against its inhibiting with organic solvents (DMSO and isopropyl alcohol). The kinetics of the process has been studied. Based on molecular docking of all tested antioxidants to the surface of His6-OPH dimer, options of their localization have been identified. These data were used to explain the revealed stabilizing effect of the antioxidants on the enzyme as well as their negative influence on His6-OPH activity.

The organophosphorus compound N-methylol dimethyl phosphonopropionamide (MDPA) is extensively used for durable flame retardant (FR) treatments for cotton fabrics. For optimum finishing treatment, MDPA is used with the Trimethylol melamine (TMM) or dimethylol dihydroxyethylene urea (DMDHEU) for cotton fabric treatments. The amino resins TMM known to pose severe toxic problems such as; breathing problems, headache and most importantly, cancer. In the production, consumption and eventually in the disposal phase of FR with TMM treated cotton fabrics, the release of TMM and toxic emissions cannot be ignored. In this study, mineralization and degradation of the organophosphorus FR compound from the cotton fabric using Advanced Oxidation Process (AOP) was successfully employed. The kinetics of degradation of FR substance from the cotton fabric was studied. The rate of degradation of the FR substance from the cotton fabrics was observed with chemical oxygen demand (COD). The kinetic rate constant equations and characterization of the mineralization and degradation of the FR substance by the AOP reaction was developed with the COD values. The organophosphorus FR on the fabric found to follow the first-order of kinetics of degradation from the cotton fabric.

Herein, we propose the first three-dimensional origami paper-based device for the detection of several classes of pesticides by combining different enzyme-inhibition biosensors. This device was developed by integrating two different office paper-based screen-printed electrodes and multiple filter paper-based pads to load enzymes and enzymatic substrates. The versatile analysis of different pesticides was carried by folding and unfolding the filter paper-based structure, without any addition of reagents and any sample treatment (i.e. dilution, filtration, pH adjustment). The paper-based platform was employed to detect paraoxon, 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid, and atrazine by exploiting the capability of these different types of pesticides (i.e. organophosphorus insecticides, phenoxy-acid herbicides, and triazine herbicide) to inhibit butyrylcholinesterase, alkaline phosphatase, and tyrosinase, respectively. The degree of inhibition correlating to the quantity of pesticides was evaluated by chronoamperometrically monitoring the enzymatic activity in the absence and in the presence of pesticides by using a portable potentiostat. To improve the sensitivity, the paper-based electrodes were modified with carbon black alone in the case of platforms for 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid and atrazine detection, or decorated with Prussian blue nanoparticles for the detection of paraoxon. The paper-based device was applied for the detection of paraoxon, 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid, and atrazine at ppb level in both standard solutions and river water sample. The accuracy of this origami multiple paper-based electrochemical biosensor was evaluated in river water by recovery studies, obtaining satisfactory values (e.g. for paraoxon 90 ± 1% and 88 ± 2%, for 10 and 20 ppb, respectively). The proposed three-dimensional origami paper device allows for rapid, cost-effective and accurate pesticide detection in surface water as a result of combining filter and office papers, screen-printing, wax-printing and nanomaterial technology.

Sol-gel coatings are proposed as surface treatments for titanium-based materials to promote the osseointegration of prosthetic devices with the host. As precursors of sol-gel synthesis, two silanes were selected: 3-methacryloxypropyltrimethoxy silane and 2 tetramethyl orthosilane. Sol-gel synthesis was functionalized with the addition of two different organophosphorus compounds, namely, tris(trimethylsilyl) phosphite and tris(trimethylsilyl) phosphate. Depending on the organophosphorus compound, phosphorus was incorporated into the sol-gel network by different mechanisms: organophosphate was incorporated following a hydrolysis/polycondensation reaction with the precursors of synthesis (two organopolysiloxanes), whereas organophosphite was introduced into the network through transformation of trivalent phosphorus to pentavalent phosphorus following a Michaelis-Arbuzov reaction and subsequent reaction of hydrolysis/polycondensation. When compared to the control coating, which has good adhesion coating-substrate, only the addition of the organophosphite ensured good adhesion without altering synthesis. The resulting coating modified with organophosphite was subjected to cellular study and the concentration of this compound was varied to reach the highest enhancement of proliferation. It was demonstrated that by increasing the amount of organophosphite cell proliferation increased. Inspection of the surfaces of the coatings revealed that by increasing the quantity of organophosphite, adhesion to the substrate was compromised. Thus, an intermediate quantity of organophosphite was considered the most suitable for application on metallic prosthetic devices.

Vitamin D deficiency contributes to cardiovascular risk (CVR), with hyperparathyroidism advocated as a putative mechanism. Indeed, mounting evidence supports the hypothesis that parathyroid hormone (PTH) impairs endothelial function, even though mechanisms are not fully elucidated. The present study was designed to verify in vitro the ability of sustained exposure to PTH to cause endothelial dysfunction, exploring the underlying mechanisms. In bovine aortic endothelial cells (BAECs), we evaluated the effects of PTH exposure (0.1 nM–24 hours) on both endothelial response to vasodilators, such as bradykinin (Bk (30 nM)) and acetylcholine (Ach (1 μM)), and angiogenic competence. Pretreatment with PTH impaired endothelial response to Bk but not to Ach, in terms of cytosolic calcium fluxes and NO production. In order to explore the underlying mechanisms, we assessed the production of total and mitochondrial ROS (tROS and mROS, respectively) in response to PTH (at 1 and 3 hours). PTH increased ROS generation, to an extent high enough to determine oxidation of Bk receptor B2. Conversely, the oxidation levels of M1 and M3 Ach receptors were not affected by PTH. A mROS selective scavenger (MitoTEMPO (5 μM)) restored the endothelial responsiveness to Bk while the well-known antioxidant properties of vitamin D (100 nM) failed to counteract PTH-mediated oxidative stress. PTH determined mitochondrial calcium fluxes ([Ca2+]mt) and the mitochondrial calcium uniporter inhibitor Ru360 (10 μM) reduced mROS production and prevented the PTH-mediated endothelial dysfunction. Angiogenic competence was evaluated as tubular formations in the endothelial Matrigel assay and showed a significant impairment in PTH-pretreated cells (0.1 nM–24 hours), despite the increase in VEGF transcriptional levels. VEGFR2 oxidation occurred in response to PTH, suggesting that even the impairment of angiogenesis was due to the ROS surge. These results indicate that PTH affects endothelial function through ROS production, driven by mitochondrial calcium overload. PTH-induced oxidative stress might act as signaling modifiers, altering specific pathways (Bk and VEGF) and preserving others (Ach).

The catalytic activity of hexahistidine-tagged organophosphorus hydrolase (His6-OPH) in hydrolytic reactions of methylphosphonic acid (MPA) and its monoesters and diesters being decomposition products of R-VX was demonstrated for the first time. The catalytic constants of enzyme in such reactions were determined. The mechanism of C-P bond cleavage in the MPA by His6-OPH was proposed. Such reaction was estimated to be carried out with the soluble and nanocapsulated forms of His6-OPH. His6-OPH was demonstrated to be capable of degrading the key organophosphorus components of reaction masses (RMs) that are produced by the chemical detoxification of R-VX and RMs are multi-substrate mixtures for this enzyme. The kinetic model describing the behaviour of His6-OPH in RMs was proposed and was shown to adequately fit experimental points during degradation of the real samples of RMs.

Tri-ortho-cresyl phosphate (ToCP) is a multipurpose organophosphorus compound that is neurotoxic and suspected to be involved in aerotoxic syndrome in humans. It has been reported that not ToCP itself but a metabolite of ToCP, namely, 2-(ortho-cresyl)-4H-1,2,3-benzodioxaphosphoran-2-one (CBDP), may be responsible for this effect as it can irreversibly bind to human butyrylcholinesterase (BuChE) and human acetylcholinesterase (AChE). The bioactivation of ToCP into CBDP involves Cytochrome P450s (P450s). However, the individual human P450s responsible for this bioactivation have not been identified yet. In the present study, we aimed to investigate the metabolism of ToCP by different P450s and to determine the inhibitory effect of the in vitro generated ToCP-metabolites on human BuChE and AChE. Human liver microsomes, rat liver microsomes, and recombinant human P450s were used for that purpose. The recombinant P450s 2B6, 2C18, 2D6, 3A4 and 3A5 showed highest activity of ToCP-bioactivation to BuChE-inhibitory metabolites. Inhibition experiments using pooled human liver microsomes indicated that P450 3A4 and 3A5 were mainly involved in human hepatic bioactivation of ToCP. In addition, these experiments indicated a minor role for P450 1A2. Formation of CBDP by in-house expressed recombinant human P450s 1A2 and 3A4 was proven by both LC-MS and GC-MS analysis. When ToCP was incubated with P450 1A2 and 3A4 in the presence of human BuChE, CBDP-BuChE-adducts were detected by LC-MS/MS which were not present in the corresponding control incubations. These results confirmed the role of human P450s 1A2 and 3A4 in ToCP metabolism and demonstrated that CBDP is the metabolite responsible for the BuChE inactivation. Interindividual differences at the level of P450 1A2 and 3A4 might play an important role in the susceptibility of humans in developing neurotoxic effects, such as aerotoxic syndrome, after exposure to ToCP. © 2015 American Chemical Society

Acylpeptide hydrolases (APHs) catalyze the removal of N-acylated amino acids from blocked peptides. Like other prolyloligopeptidase (POP) family members, APHs are believed to be important targets for drug design. To date, the binding pose of organophosphorus (OP) compounds of APH, as well as the different OP compounds binding and inducing conformational changes in two domains, namely, α/β hydrolase and β-propeller, remain poorly understood. We report a computational study of APH bound to chlorpyrifosmethyl oxon and dichlorvos. In our docking study, Val471 and Gly368 are important residues for chlorpyrifosmethyl oxon and dichlorvos binding. Molecular dynamics simulations were also performed to explore the conformational changes between the chlorpyrifosmethyl oxon and dichlorvos bound to APH, which indicated that the structural feature of chlorpyrifosmethyl oxon binding in APH permitted partial opening of the β-propeller fold and allowed the chlorpyrifosmethyl oxon to easily enter the catalytic site. These results may facilitate the design of APH-targeting drugs with improved efficacy.

Novel methods of molecular modeling help solving urgent problems in drug design, directed evolution of biocatalysts and biosensors, and a lot of other research fields. Implementation of such methods to organophosphorus hydrolase being perfect research object that hydrolyzes dangerous neurotoxic organophosphates could intensify development of antidote and protective preparations to treat poisoning. Structures of enzyme-polyelectrolyte complexes (EPCs) based on hexahistidine-tagged organophosphorus hydrolase (His6-OPH) with different biopolymers (various modifications of polyglutamic and polyaspartic acid, as well as hydroxyethyl starch and succinylated gelatin) were simulated at different pH using molecular docking. A number of EPCs with expected “positive” effect on maintaining the maximum level of His6-OPH activity, and some “negative” options were produced, and their catalytic performance was studied. The theoretical results were experimentally confirmed for four of the six “positive” options. EPCs obtained possessed up to 20–40% higher catalytic efficiency in hydrolysis reactions of Paraoxon and Parathion-methyl as compared with that of the native His6-OPH. The results obtained may be a good proof of concept for implementation of molecular docking to calculate model complexes of proteins with (bio)polymers of 6.4–105.5 kg/mol. Also, the approach used here could be interesting as alternative or addition to the directed modifications of enzymes to alter their catalytic characteristics.

Human prolidase is a proline-specific metallopeptidase that catalyzes the hydrolysis of dipeptides containing a proline residue at the C-terminus. Human prolidase also has weak hydrolytic activity for toxic organophosphorus compounds, including diisopropyl fluorophosphate (DFP), sarin and soman. In this study, we performed in silico analysis to improve the catalytic activity of human prolidase towards DFP hydrolysis. We predicted that single amino acid substitution mutations of either A252R or P365R could form a salt bridge between the A252R mutant residue and the E249 residue or the P365R mutant residue and the E424 residue. The predicted values for ΔGstability and ΔGaffinity due to salt bridge formation were examined: for A252R, ΔGstability = -12.8 kcal/mol and ΔGaffinity = -0.02 kcal/mol; for P365R, ΔGstability = -1.44 kcal/mol and ΔGaffinity = -2.98 kcal/mol. Next, we produced wild-type (WT), A252R, P365R and A252R/P365R recombinant human prolidases from a bacterial expression system with a purity of over 99 %. Finally, we measured the DFPase and prolidase activities of the purified recombinant human prolidases. The catalytic efficiencies of A252R and P365R towards DFP hydrolysis were 1.23- and 1.36-fold increases, respectively, compared to that of the WT, while the prolidase activities of A252R and P365R towards Leu-Pro hydrolysis were 0.88- and 0.78-fold that of the WT, respectively. However, we could not detect any enzymatic activity in the recombinant A252R/P365R double substitution mutant. Thus, our results indicate that substitution mutations of A252R and P365R in human prolidase show improved DFPase activity.

Numerous studies demonstrated a limited efficacy of clinically used oximes in case of poisoning by various organophosphorus compounds. A broad spectrum oxime antidote covering all organophosphorus nerve agents and pesticides is still missing and effective (bio-)scavengers have not yet been marketed.The interactions of the available and clinically approved hydroxyethyl starch, dextran and lipid emulsions with organophosphorus nerve agents and pesticides were investigated in order to provide an in vitro base for the evaluation of these compounds in human organophosphorus poisoning.The degradation kinetics of organophosphorus compounds by the glucose derivatives and lipid emulsions were investigated with an acetylcholinesterase inhibition assay.The incubation of organophosphorus compounds with TRIS-Ca(2+) buffer resulted in a time-dependent degradation of the nerve agents with half-lives of 42 min for cyclosarin, 49 min for sarin, 99 min for tabun, 107 min for soman 19 h for malaoxon and 54 h for VX. In contrast, incubation with all tested compounds resulted in a stabilisation of the organophosphorus compounds.Our results suggest that binding of lipophilic organophosphorus compounds could result in a reduced spontaneous and enzyme-induced degradation of the toxic compounds.High dose lipid emulsions and glucose derivatives stabilised organophosphorus compounds in vitro.

Oxidative degradation of fensulfothion, a model organophosphorus compound, has been investigated by pulse radiolysis and H2O2/UV photolysis. A nearly complete transformation of fensulfothion was observed within 4 min of irradiation. Very little Total Organic Carbon (TOC) reduction was obtained at this time scale. When the product studies at this stage were conducted using LC–MS/MS analyses, nearly 20 transformation products were obtained. The entire products were identified as from the reaction of OH with fensulfothion or with some of its initially transformed products. Nearly 80% reduction in TOC was observed when photolysis was conducted using higher concentrations of H2O2 at longer time scale. A reaction rate constant (bimolecular) of 1.10 × 1010 dm3 mol−1 s−1 was obtained for the reaction of OH with fensulfothion using pulse radiolysis technique. The transient absorption spectrum obtained from the reaction of OH has a maximum at 280 nm and a weak, broad maximum around 500 nm along with a small shoulder around 340 nm. The intermediate spectrum is assigned to the radical cation of fensulfothion (3) and the hydroxyl radical adducts (1 and 2). This assignment is supported by the intermediate spectrum (λmax at 280 nm) from the reaction of sulfate radical anion ( SO 4 - ) (k2 = 3.20 × 109 dm3 mol−1 s−1) which is a one electron oxidant. It is thus demonstrated that the combination of both pulse radiolysis and the product estimation using LC–MS/MS is ideal in probing the complete mechanism which is very important in the mineralization reactions using Advanced Oxidation Processes.

There is an ongoing debate whether oximes can effectively counteract the effects of organophosphorus compounds (OP) on brain acetylcholinesterase (AChE) activity and whether there are differences in the kinetic properties of brain and erythrocyte AChE. In order to investigate the kinetics of AChE from different tissues and species the well established dynamically working in vitro model with real-time determination of membrane-bound AChE activity was adapted for use with brain AChE. The enzyme reactor, that was loaded with brain, erythrocyte or muscle AChE, was continuously perfused with substrate and chromogen while AChE activity was on-line analyzed in a flow-through detector. It was possible to determine the Michaelis-Menten constants of human erythrocyte, muscle and brain AChE which were almost identical. In addition, the inhibition kinetics of sarin and paraoxon as well as the reactivation kinetics of obidoxime and HI 6 were determined with human, swine and guinea pig brain and erythrocyte AChE. It was found that the inhibition and reactivation kinetics of brain and erythrocyte AChE were highly comparable in all tested species. These data support the view that AChE from different tissue has similar kinetic properties and that brain AChE is comparably susceptible toward reactivation by oximes.

To develop a prophylactic for organophosphorus (OP) poisoning utilizing catalytic bioscavengers, the circulatory stability of the enzymes needs to be increased. One strategy for increasing the bioavailability of OP bioscavengers is to target them to the surface of red blood cells (RBCs). Given the circulatory lifespan of 120 days for human RBCs, this strategy has the potential for creating a persistent pool of bioscavenger. Here we report the development of fusion proteins with a single chain variable fragment (scFv) of Ter119, a molecule that associates with glycophorin A on the surface of RBCs, and the VIID11 variant of paraoxonase 1 (scFv-PON1). We show that scFv-PON1 variants expressed by Trichoplusia ni larvae are catalytically active and that one variant in particular can successfully bind to the surface of murine RBCs both in vitro and in vivo. This study represents a proof of concept for targeting catalytic bioscavengers to the surface of RBCs and is an early step in developing catalytic bioscavengers that can remain in circulation for an extended period of time.

Bioscavengers are an effective alternative approach for pre- and post-exposure treatments of nerve agent (NA) poisoning. Bioscavengers are natural or recombinant enzymes, reactive proteins, and antibodies that neutralize NAs before they reach their physiological targets. They are administered by injection (protein or gene delivery vector) and react with NAs in the bloodstream. Other ways of delivery can be used: inhalation for pulmonary delivery, topical creams for skin protection, etc. Operational bioscavengers must be producible at low cost, not susceptible to induce immune response and adverse effects, and stable in the bloodstream, upon storage, and under field conditions. First generation bioscavengers, cholinesterases and carboxylesterases, are stoichiometric bioscavengers. However, stoichiometric neutralization of NAs needs administration of huge doses of costly biopharmaceuticals. Second generation bioscavengers are catalytic bioscavengers. These are capable of detoxifying organophosphates regeneratively. By virtue of high turnover, much lower doses are needed for rapid neutralization of toxicants. The most promising catalytic bioscavengers are evolved mutants of phosphotriesterases (bacterial enzymes, mammalian paraoxonases), displaying enantiomeric preference for toxic NA isomers. However, engineering of cholinesterases, carboxylesterases, prolidases and other enzymes, e.g. phosphotriesterases-lactonases from extremophiles is of interest. In particular, association of cholinesterase mutants (not susceptible to age after phosphylation) with fast-reactivating oximes leads to pseudocatalytic bioscavengers. Thus, catalytic and pseudocatalytic bioscavengers are an improvement of bioscavenger-based medical countermeasures in terms of efficacy and cost.

The biotinylated organophosphorus compound 1-(saligenin cyclic phospho)-9-biotinyldiaminononane (S9B) has been used for the detection, labeling and isolation of the membrane-bound neuropathy target esterase (NTE) as it was considered a specific inhibitor of NTE. After incubation with the soluble fraction of chicken peripheral nerve, most of the soluble esterase activity was highly sensitive to S9B, indicating NTE-like esterases. A kinetic model equation was used to assume a multi-enzymatic system with three different simultaneously occurring molecular phenomena; (1) inhibition; (2) simultaneous spontaneous reactivation; and (3) ongoing inhibition (inhibition during the substrate reaction); to fit the data to analyze kinetic behavior. A high “ongoing inhibition” effect was observed in an enzymatic component. A three-dimensional fit of the model was applied. The best fitting model is compatible with three sensitive enzymatic entities (33, 52 and 15%), and only one spontaneously reactivate. The second-order rate constants of inhibition ( k i = 116 × 10 6 , 4.6 × 10 6 and 0.28 × 10 6 M −1 min −1 , respectively) and the spontaneous reactivation constant for the first sensitive component ( k r = 0.0054 min −1 ) were simultaneously estimated. These parameters are similar to those deduced in spontaneous reactivation experiments of the preinhibited samples with S9B. The estimated proportions of enzymatic components are similar to those previously observed in inhibition experiments with mipafox, demonstrating that this kinetic approach offers consistent results.

A square wave voltammetry method was developed for the assessment of organophosphorus (OPs) compound impact on the cholinesterase of Pheretima with 2,6-dichloroindophenol (2,6-DCIP) as a redox indicator. The substrate of acetylthiocholine is hydrolysed by the cholinesterase (ChE) from soil animal pheretima, and the produced thiocholine reacts with the 2,6-DCIP to give obvious shift of electrochemical signal. The inhibition of ChE was assessed by measuring the enzyme activity before and after incubating with parathion-methyl. The reduction peak current of 2,6-DCIP decreases with the time of enzymatical reaction. The ChE loses almost 32.74% activity after 10 min incubation with 1ng mL(-1) paraoxon and 54.62% with 10 microg mL(-1) paraoxon, while the activity that corresponds to 100 microg mL(-1) paraoxon was nearly completely inhibited. This method can be employed to assess the inhibition of ChE and investigate OPs impact on environmental animals.

Organophosphorus compound (OP) tabun is resistant to reactivate by many oxime drugs after the formation of OP-conjugate with AChE. The reactivation of tabun-inhibited mAChE and site-directed mutants by bispyridinium oxime, K048 (N-[4-(4-hydroxyiminomethylpyridinio)butyl]-4-carbamoylpyridinium dibromide) showed that the mutations significantly poor the overall reactivation efficacy of K048. We have unravelled the lowered efficacy of K048 with the tabun-mutant mAChE(Y337A) using docking and steered molecular dynamics (SMD) simulations. The computed results showed some interesting features for the interaction of drug molecule K048 with tabun-mAChE(wild-type) and tabun-mutant mAChE(Y337A). The SMD simulations showed that the active pyridinium ring of K048 is directed towards the phosphorus atom conjugated to the active serine (SUN203) of tabun-mAChE(wild-type). The cradle shaped residues Tyr337-Phe338 present in the choline binding site stabilize the active pyridinium ring of K048 with π-π interaction and the residue Trp86 involved in T-shaped cation-π interaction. However, in the case of tabun-mutant mAChE(Y337A).K048 conjugate, the replacement of aromatic Tyr337 with the aliphatic alanine unit in the choline binding site, however, loses one of the π-π interaction between the active pyridinium ring of K048 and the Tyr337. The placement of aliphatic alanine unit resulted in the displacement of the side chain of Phe338 towards the His447. Such displacement is causing the inaccessibility of the drug towards the phosphorus atom conjugated to the active serine (SUN203) of tabun-mutant mAChE(Y337A). Furthermore, the unbinding of the K048 with SMD studies showed that the active pyridinium ring of the drug undergoes a complete turn along the gorge axis and is directed away from the phosphorus atom conjugated to the active serine of the tabun-mutant mAChE(Y337A). Such effects inside the gorge of tabun-mutant mAChE(Y337A) would lower the efficacy of the drug molecule (K048) for the reactivation process. The binding free energy computed for the tabun-mAChE(wild-type) and tabun-mutant mAChE(Y337A) with K048 showed that the drug molecule prefers to bind strongly with the former enzyme (∼30 kJ/mol) than the later one.

Detoxification mechanisms of the chemical warfare agent cyclosarin (GF) in presence of 6-OxP-CD were investigated in detail in in vitro model systems. Most important finding was the preference of 6-Ox-P-CD to eliminate the more toxic (-)-GF. However, elimination of GF enantiomers was dependent on the 6-OxP-CD:GF ratios showing decreasing stereoselectivity and speed of the reaction with increasing GF concentrations. Formation of covalent mono, bis, tris and tetrakis conjugates ((CHMP)n-6-OxP-CD) and appearance of small molecular fragments (SMF) as possible decomposition products after consumption of 6-OxP-CD could be observed.. Interestingly, the non-toxic metabolite O-cyclohexyl methylphosphonic acid (CHMPA) and covalent mono and bis conjugates of 6-OxP-CD and GF were immediately formed, indicating that GF elimination proceeds along different pathways. These important new insights provide information about the mode of action of 6-Ox-P-CD including the role of the pyridinium aldoxime group on the cyclodextrin ring. They are the basis for further investigations in biological media, which could eventually lead to approval of 6-OxP-CD as a new antidote against nerve agent toxicity. © 2015 Elsevier Ireland Ltd.

Current antidotal regimens for organophosphorus compound (OP) poisoning consist of a combination of pretreatment with a spontaneously reactivating AChE inhibitor such as pyridostigmine bromide, and postexposure therapy with anticholinergic drugs such as atropine sulfate and oximes such as 2-PAM chloride (Gray, 1984). Although these antidotal regimens are effective in preventing lethality of animals from OP poisoning, they do not prevent postexposure incapacitation, convulsions, performance deficits, or, in many cases, permanent brain damage (Dunn and Sidell, 1989). These problems stimulated the development of enzyme bioscavengers as a pretreatment to sequester highly toxic OPs before they reach their physiological targets. Several studies over the last two decades have demonstrated that exogenously administered human serum butyrylcholinesterase (Hu BChE) can be used successfully as a safe, efficacious, and single prophylactic treatment to counteract the toxicity of OPs. It also has potential use for first responders (civilians) reacting to terrorist nerve gas release, pesticide overexposure, or succinylcholine-induced apnea. A dose of 200 mg of Hu BChE in humans is envisioned as a prophylactic treatment that can protect from exposure of 2-5 x LD50 of nerve agents (Ashani, 2000).

Poisoning by organophosphorus compounds (OP) used as pesticides and nerve agents is due to irreversible inhibition of the enzyme acetylcholinesterase (AChE). Oximes have been widely recognized for their potency to reactivate the inhibited enzyme. The limited efficacy of currently available oximes against a broad spectrum of OP-compounds initiated novel research efforts to improve oxime-based treatment. Hereby, oxime-induced reactivation of OP-inhibited non-human AChE was reported to be accelerated by different AChE-ligands. To investigate this concept with AChE from human source, the inhibitory potency, binding properties and the potential enhancement of oxime-induced reactivation of OP-inhibited AChE by structurally different AChE-ligands was assessed. Several ligands competed with the oxime for the AChE binding-site impairing reactivation of OP-inhibited AChE whereas a markedly accelerated reactivation of sarin-inhibited enzyme by obidoxime was recorded in the presence of edrophonium, galanthamine and donepezil. Enhancement of oxime-induced reactivation with ligands was presumably subject to prevention of re-inhibition by the reaction product phosphonyloxime (POX). In the end, the results of the present study did not confirm that AChE-ligands directly accelerate the reactivation of OP-inhibited AChE by oximes, but indirectly by prevention of re-inhibition by the reaction product POX. This may be due to different experimental conditions and species differences between human and non-human AChE of previous experiments with non-human AChE.

Cholinesterases are targets for organophosphorus compounds which are used as pesticides, insecticides, chemical warfare agents and drugs for the treatment of disease such as glaucoma or parasitic infections. Most organophosphorus compounds impart their toxic action via inhibition of cholinesterases by reacting at an essential serine hydroxyl group. The inhibition process depends on the leaving group, stereochemistry and reactivity of the organophosphorus compound. In this study, the inhibitory potency of two isoelectronic and isostructural diaza- and dioxophospholes A (CH3C6H3 O2P(O)Cl) and B (CH3C6H3(NH)2P(O)Cl) against human acetylcholinesterase (hAChE) was examined by spectrophotometric measurements based on Ellman's method. Results indicated that compounds A and B were irreversible inhibitors with IC50 values of 0.48 and 1.54mM, respectively and inactivation constants (k(i)) of 0.0363 and 0.0207min(-1), respectively. The differences in the inhibitory potency of two phosphole compounds is discussed with respect to their structures. In addition, the synthesis and characterization of compound A is discussed.

The developed inhalation system is a dynamic and whole-body exposure model designated for generating sarin or soman vapors. It consists of an evaporating apparatus, an inhalation chamber and a carbon filter. The inhalation chamber is made of stainless steel and its total volume is 36 l. The concentration of organophosphorus compound depends on airflow through the chamber, syringe volume of the dosing pump and dosing speed. For determination of organophosphorus compound (OPC) concentration, a modification of Ellman method is used. At generating of vapors in the inhalation chamber the means of the yield were 61.4 ± 6.6 % for sarin and 35.8 ± 3.5 % for soman. The better yield for sarin than for soman, because of the higher volatility of sarin in comparison with soman was achieved. The stable concentration of the OPC for several hours could be maintained in the inhalation chamber when only relatively small amount of the OPC is used. Using the developed inhalation system LCt50 for sarin and for soman in rats was determined. At 1 h exposure the LCt50 values were 4.72 mg.h-1.m-3 for sarin and 4.81 mg.h-1.m-3 for soman. The results presented show that the inhalation chamber successfully fulfils the role of instrument for inhalation intoxication of small laboratory animals with highly toxic OPC.

In this paper a novel and general procedure is presented for detection of organophosphate-inhibited human butyrylcholinesterase (HuBuChE), which is based on electrospray tandem mass spectrometric analysis of phosphylated nonapeptides obtained after pepsin digestion of the enzyme. The utility of this method is exemplified by the positive analysis of serum samples from Japanese victims of the terrorist attack with sarin in the Tokyo subway in 1995.

The well-established dynamic in vitro model for the real-time determination of acetylcholinesterase activity was modified for use of human butyrylcholinesterase (BChE) activity. Human plasma as BChE source was layered on a syringe filter and the enzyme reactor was continuously perfused with phosphate buffer, butyrylthiocholine and Ellman’s reagent at pH 7.4 and 37 °C which resulted in a stable BChE activity for up to 240 min. Then, the model was applied for investigating the suitability of human BChE in combination with an oxime (HLo 7) to serve as a ‘pseudo-catalytic’ scavenger of the organophosphorus nerve agent cyclosarin. The application of different perfusion protocols demonstrated the ability of BChE-oxime combinations to prevent BChE from irreversible inhibition by cyclosarin even at toxicologically relevant concentrations. In the end, this model seems to be suitable for the investigation of human plasma BChE as an endogenous, ‘pseudo-catalytic’ scavenger of a variety of nerve agents.

Soluble extracts of chicken peripheral nerve contain detectable amounts of phenyl valerate esterase (PVase) activity (about 2000 nmol/min per g of fresh tissue). More than 95% of this activity is inhibited in assays where substrate has been added to a preincubated mixture of tissue with the non-neuropathic organophosphorus compound (OP) paraoxon (O,O'-diethyl p-nitrophenyl phosphate): residual activity includes soluble neuropathy target esterase (S-NTE) which, by definition, is considered resistant to long-term progressive (covalent) inhibition by paraoxon. However we have previously shown that paraoxon strongly interacts with S-NTE so interfering with its sensitivity to other inhibitors. We now show that, surprisingly, removal of paraoxon by ultrafiltration ('P' tissue) in order to avoid such an interference results in the reappearance of about 65% of total original soluble PVase activity which is inhibited in the presence of this OP. Although a purely reversible non-progressive inhibition might be suspected, kinetic analysis data show a time-progressive inhibition which suggests that such PVase(s) covalently bind paraoxon. Also a time-dependent recovery due to spontaneous reactivation of the PVase activity was observed after dilution of the inhibitor. Gel filtration chromatography of 'P' tissue in Sephacryl S-300 shows that the reactivated activity is associated with proteins of about 100-kDa mass which include S-NTE and an, as yet, unknown number of other PVases. The implications of these findings in the definition of NTE in a target tissue for the so-called organophosphorus-induced delayed polyneuropathy (OPIDP) are discussed.

O -Hexyl, O -2,5-dichlorophenyl phosphoramidate (HDCP) is a chiral compound that induces delayed neuropathy in hens. This compound is hydrolyzed by a phosphotriesterase known as HDCPase in hen and rat plasma, liver and brain. We studied the stereospecificity of HDCPase in hen tissues and in human and rabbit plasma employing a chromatographic method for analysis and quantification of HDCP stereoisomers. Hen and human plasma HDCPases were not stereospecific. However, rabbit plasma showed a remarkable stereospecificity to S-(−)-HDCP. High levels of stereospecific HDCPase were found in the particulate fraction of hen liver, where S-(−)-HDCP is hydrolyzed faster than R-(+)-HDCP. However, in hen brain the stereospecificity was found in the soluble fraction, where R-(+)-HDCP is hydrolyzed faster than S-(−)-HDCP. It is concluded that liver particulate fraction must be the main tissue responsible for the HDCP stereospecific biotransformation in hens. In an oral administration, the steroisomer R-(+)-HDCP would survive after passing through the liver and would interact with acetylcholinesterase and neuropathy target esterase in the nervous system.

Discrepancies in the aging reaction between neuropathy target esterase (NTE) inhibited in vitro and in vivo by racemic mixtures of O-alkyl O-2,5-dichlorophenyl phosphoramidates have been observed. It suggested the existence of differences in the interactions (inhibition and aging) between NTE and each stereoisomers of the above mentioned compounds. In order to verify this hypothesis, stereoisomers of O-hexyl O-2,5-dichlorophenyl phosphoramidate (HDCP) were isolated by chiral column chromatography, followed by the evaluation of NTE inhibition and aging for each stereoisomers. The loss of reactivation capacity by KF was used as criterion of aging. The stereoisomer S-(−)-HDCP inhibited hen brain NTE with an I50 of 7.6 nM for 30 min of incubation, this being similar to the value obtained for the racemic mixture (I50=6.2 nM), and much lower than that recorded for R-(+)-HDCP (I50=191 nM). NTE inhibited by HDCP racemic mixture and the stereoisomer S-(−)-HDCP was reactivated by KF after 20 h of incubation at 37°C. The NTE inhibited by R-(+)-HDCP could not be fully reactivated after inhibition., This work was financed by SAF 96/0168 and by FISSS (95/0053). M.A.S. and N.D.A. received a grant from the Spanish Ministry of Education and Science.

Organophosphorus compounds are used as pesticides and represent a common cause of poisoning in developing countries including India due to their widespread availability and use. Toxicity due to these agents can affect many organs including heart. Here, we report a case of acute organophosphorus poisoning (parathion), followed by acute myocardial infarction; documented by clinical features, electrocardiographic changes, and elevated cardiac enzymes. Myocardial infarction has been rarely reported with organophosphorus compounds exposure, thus awareness of this complication can reduce morbidity and mortality.

A simple and efficient one-pot three-component reaction between hexamethyl phosphorous triamide and dimethyl acetylenedicarboxylate (DMAD) in the presence of CH-acids, such as acetylacetone, 1,3-indandione, dibenzoylmethane, anthrone, and N,N-dimethylbarbituric acid, has been studied. In all cases, new and stable phosphorus ylides are obtained in excellent yields. These stable ylides exist in solution as a mixture of two geometrical isomers as a result of restricted rotation around the carbon–carbon partial double bond, resulting from conjugation of the ylide moiety with the adjacent carbonyl group. From the reaction of N,N-dimethylbarbituric acid with DMAD in the presence of hexamethyl phosphorous triamide, a 1,4-diionic organophosphorus compound is obtained. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Heteroatom Chem 24:84–89, 2013; View this article online at wileyonlinelibrary.com. DOI 10.1002/hc.21067

Tributyl phosphate (TBP) has enormous applications in the field of extraction, fuel reprocessing, as defoamers and/or plasticizers. Excessive usage of this organophosphorus compound, poses an environmental threat. The present study deals with microbial degradation of TBP using Klebsiella pneumoniae S3 isolated from the soil. Diauxic growth curve pattern explains a preferential utilization of TBP. The strain S3 was able to biotransform TBP (1,000 mg L−1) to dibutyl phosphate within 48 h and showed higher tolerance towards TBP up to 17.0 g L−1. Toxicity of the parent as well as degraded product was assessed using comet assay. Generation of reactive oxygen species elaborates the oxidative stress imposed upon the bacterial strain by TBP. The antioxidant defense mechanism was studied using various biomarkers namely catalase, glutathione-S-transferase, and superoxide dismutase. The present study describes a faster and eco-friendly alternative for disposal of TBP.

International audience; As standard therapy of intoxication with organophosphorus (OP) compounds is still insufficient, developing new treatment strategies is urgently required. For evaluating potential of OP detoxification of several compounds correctly, different toxicodynamic impact of OP enantiomers has to be considered thoroughly. It has already been demonstrated that β-cyclodextrin (β-CD) derivatives with attached nucleophilic substituent iodosobenzoic acid (IBA) can be regarded as potent OP scavengers due to an accelerating effect on decay of different OP. Herein, six CD derivatives permethylated or not on CD torus as well as differently attached nucleophilic substituent IBA derivative were investigated regarding detoxification of GF as an OP model substance. Acceleration of GF detoxification could be detected for all compounds with highest rate constants for propylene chain linked nucleophilic substituents on CD derivative. In addition, fast initial binding of GF on CD could be observed and is ascribed to formation of CD complexes. Furthermore, terminal plateau phase was detected of about 1% of each enantiomer reflecting the necessity of a quantitative determination at low concentrations. Moreover, this molecular depot formation may represent an additional detoxification pathway for OP.

International audience; Current treatments of organophosphorus nerve agents poisoning are imperfect, and more efficient medical countermeasures need to be developed. Chemical scavengers based on β-cyclodextrin displayed promising results, but further investigations have to be performed to evaluate the possibility of application of substituted cyclodextrins as potential detoxification agents. Herein, five new cyclodextrins scavengers were synthesized. New optimal conditions for regioselectively monosubstitution of β-cyclodextrin at O-2 position were then studied to access to key intermediates. After these optimizations, a new series of three permethylated derivatives was developed, and two compounds bearing an α-nucleophilic group via a three carbon atoms linker were prepared. The ability of these five scavengers to detoxify nerve agents (cyclosarin, soman, tabun and VX) was evaluated by a semi-quantitative biological assay. All the modified cyclodextrins significantly decreased the inhibitory effect of chemical warfare G agents on acetylcholinesterase activity. For this purpose, we showed that the specific interactions between the organophosphorus compound and the oligosaccharidic moiety of the scavenger played a pivotal role in the detoxification process.

Experiments on cats demonstrate the capacity of alert animals to compensate for disorders in pulmonary and systemic hemodynamics caused by organophosphorus compounds. Heart rate, systemic arterial pressure, and total peripheral resistance completely normalize on day 3 after exposure. Pulmonary vascular resistance and pulmonary blood pressure remain negligibly increased.

CBDP [2-(2-cresyl)-4H-1-3-2-benzodioxaphosphorin-2-oxide] is a toxic organophosphorus compound. It is generated in vivo from tri-ortho-cresyl phosphate (TOCP), a component of jet engine oil and hydraulic fluids. Exposure to TOCP was proven to occur on board aircraft by finding CBDP-derived phospho-butyrylcholinesterase in the blood of passengers. Adducts on BChE, however, do not explain the toxicity of CBDP. Critical target proteins of CBDP are yet to be identified. Our goal was to facilitate the search for the critical targets of CBDP by determining the range of amino acid residues capable of reacting with CBDP and characterizing the types of adducts formed. We used human albumin as a model protein. Mass spectral analysis of the tryptic digest of CBDP-treated human albumin revealed adducts on His-67, His-146, His-242, His-247, His-338, Tyr-138, Tyr-140, Lys-199, Lys-351, Lys-414, Lys-432, and Lys-525. Adducts formed on tyrosine residues were different from those formed on histidines and lysines. Tyrosines were organophosphorylated by CBDP, while histidine and lysine residues were alkylated. This is the first report of an organophosphorus compound with both phosphorylating and alkylating properties. The o-hydroxybenzyl adduct on histidine is novel. The ability of CBDP to form stable adducts on histidine, tyrosine, and lysine allows one to consider new mechanisms of toxicity from TOCP exposure.

Inhibition of acetylcholinesterase (AChE) is the main toxic mechanism of organophosphorus compounds (OP) and reactivation of OP-inhibited AChE by oximes is a mainstay of antidotal treatment. The inadequate efficacy of clinically used oximes led to the synthesis of numerous new compounds in the past decades to identify more effective reactivators. Despite of extensive in vitro reactivation studies the structural features for the development of effective oximes are not well understood. In the present study we investigated the kinetic interactions of a homologous series of bispyridinium monoximes bearing C1 to C12 alkylketone groups on the second pyridinium ring with native and cyclosarin-inhibited human AChE. We observed a correlation of the length of the alkyl side chain with an up to 20-fold increased affinity towards native AChE. The effect of the alkyl side chain on the affinity and reactivity towards phosphonylated AChE was moderate, except of a markedly reduced reactivity of C10 and C12 oximes. In comparison to the reference oxime HI-6 all HGG oximes had a lower reactivating potency and these oximes are not considered as promising compounds for the reactivation of cyclosarin-inhibited AChE.