Aged and non-aged pyrenebutyl-containing organophosphoryl conjugates of chymotrypsin. Preparation and comparison by 31P-NMR spectroscopy

Butyrylcholinesterase for protection from organophosphorus poisons: catalytic complexities and hysteretic behavior

Butyrylcholinesterase is a promiscuous enzyme that displays complex kinetic behavior. It is toxicologically important because it detoxifies organophosphorus poisons (OP) by making a covalent bond with the OP. The OP and the butyrylcholinesterase are both inactivated in the process. Inactivation of butyrylcholinesterase has no adverse effects. However, inactivation of acetylcholinesterase in nerve synapses can be lethal. OP-inhibited butyrylcholinesterase and acetylcholinesterase can be reactivated with oximes provided the OP has not aged. Strategies for preventing the toxicity of OP include (a) treatment with an OP scavenger, (b) reaction of non-aged enzyme with oximes, (c) reactivation of aged enzyme, (d) slowing down aging with peripheral site ligands, and (e) design of mutants that rapidly hydrolyze OP. Option (a) has progressed through phase I clinical trials with human butyrylcholinesterase. Option (b) is in routine clinical use. The others are at the basic research level. Butyrylcholinesterase displays complex kinetic behavior including activation by positively charged esters, ability to hydrolyze amides, and a lag time (hysteresis) preceding hydrolysis of benzoylcholine and N-methylindoxyl acetate. Mass spectrometry has identified new OP binding motifs on tyrosine and lysine in proteins that have no active site serine. It is proposed, but not yet proven, that low dose exposure involves OP modification of proteins that have no active site serine.

Aging of di-isopropyl-phosphorylated human butyrylcholinesterase

Organophosphate-inhibited cholinesterases can be reactivated by nucleophilic compounds. Sometimes phosphylated (phosphorylated or phosphonylated) cholinesterases become progressively refractory to reactivation; this can result from different reactions. The most frequent process, termed 'aging', involves the dealkylation of an alkoxy group on the phosphyl moiety through a carbocation mechanism. In attempting to determine the amino acid residues involved in the aging of butyrylcholinesterase (BuChE), the human BuChE gene was mutated at several positions corresponding to residues located at the rim of the active site gorge and in the vicinity of the active site. Mutant enzymes were expressed in Chinese hamster ovary cells. Wild-type BuChE and mutants were inhibited by di-isopropylfluorophosphate at pH 8.0 and 25 degrees C. Di-isopropyl-phosphorylated enzymes were incubated with the nucleophilic oxime 2-pyridine aldoxime methiodide and their reactivatability was determined. Reactivatability was expressed by the first-order rate constant of aging and/or the half-life of aging (t12). The t12 was found to be of the order of 60 min for wild-type BuChE. Mutations on Glu-197 increased t12 60-fold. Mutation W82A increased t12 13-fold. Mutation D70G increased t12 8-fold. Mutations in the vicinity of the active site serine residue had either moderate or no effect on aging; t12 was doubled for F329C and F329A, increased only 4-fold for the double mutant A328G+F329S, and no change was observed for the A328G mutant, indicating that the isopropoxy chain to be dealkylated does not directly interact with Ala-328 and Phe-329. These results were interpreted by molecular modelling of di-isopropylphosphorylated wild-type and mutant enzymes. Molecular dynamics simulations indicated that the isopropyl chain that is lost interacted with Trp-82, suggesting that Trp-82 has a role in stabilizing the carbonium ion that is released in the dealkylation step. This study emphasized the important role of the Glu-197 carboxylate in stabilizing the developing carbocation, and the allosteric control of the dealkylation reaction by Asp-70. Indeed, although Asp-70 does not interact with the phosphoryl moiety, mutation D70G affects the rate of aging. This indirect control was interpreted in terms of change in the conformational state of Trp-82 owing to internal motions of the Omega loop (Cys-65-Cys-92) in the mutant enzyme.

Aging of phosphylated human acetylcholinesterase: catalytic processes mediated by aromatic and polar residues of the active centre

We have examined the effects of 11 substitutions of active centre gorge residues of human acetylcholinesterase (HuAChE) on the rates of phosphonylation by 1,2,2-trimethylpropyl methyl-phosphonofluoridate (soman) and the aging of the resulting conjugates. The rates of phosphonylation were reduced to as little as one-seventieth, mainly in mutants of the hydrogen-bond network (Glu-202, Glu-450, Tyr-133). These recombinant enzymes as well as the F338A, W86A, W86F and D74N mutant HuAChEs varied in their resistance to aging (15-3300-fold relative to the wild type). The most dramatic resistance to aging was observed for the phosphonyl conjugate of the mutant W86A enzyme (1850-3300-fold relative to the wild type). It is proposed that Trp-86 contributes to the aging process by stabilizing the evolving carbonium ion on the 1,2,2-trimethylpropyl moiety, via charge-pi interaction. The rate-enhancing effect of Trp-86 provides a rationale for the unique facility of aging in soman-inhibited cholinesterases, compared with the corresponding conjugates in other serine hydrolases. Replacements of Glu-202 by aspartic acid, glutamine or alanine residues resulted in a similar (1/130-1/300) decrease of the rates of aging. A comparable decrease was also observed for the conjugate of the F338A mutant. These results, and the similar pH dependence of aging rates for the wild-type and E202Q and F338A mutant HuAChEs, indicate that Glu-202 is not involved in proton transfer to the phosphonyl moiety. On the basis of these findings and of molecular modelling we suggest that Glu-202 and Phe-338 contribute to the aging process by stabilizing the imidazolium of the catalytic triad His-447 via charge-charge and charge-pi interactions respectively, thereby facilitating an oxonium formation on the phosphonyl moiety.

Ultraviolet and fluorescence derivatization reagents for carboxylic acids suitable for high performance liquid chromatography: a review

Pre- and postcolumn derivatization with a suitable chromophore or fluorophore have often been utilized to enhance the sensitivity and selectivity of detection for analytes possessing a carboxyl group. The major classes of UV and fluorescent derivatization reagents include the coumarin analogues, alkyl halides, diazoalkanes, and amines. The derivatization reaction conditions, HPLC systems for separation of the conjugates and detection limits of various analytes are presented in this review. High mass sensitivity for various carboxylic acids have been achieved with the hydrazides, anthracenes, and diazoalkanes.

Reversible modification of tissue-type plasminogen activator by methylphosphonate esters

In spite of their rapid aqueous hydrolysis, 4-nitrophenyl 4-X-phenacyl methylphosphonates (X = H, (PMN) CH3, CH3O, Cl and NO2) inactivate many serine proteases of the pancreatic and blood coagulation systems efficiently. The rate constants, K/Ki, for the inactivation of tissue-type plasminogen activator enzyme (t-PA) are 470-750 M-1 S-1 with PMN, 4-CH3-PMN, and 4-CH3O-PMN in pH 7.8, 0.05 M Tris buffer at 7.0 +/- 0.5 degrees C, but t-PA cannot be inhibited with the 4-Cl and NO2 derivatives due to rapid competing hydrolysis. Enzyme activity returns from each enzyme-adduct at a characteristic rate, due to a self-catalyzed intramolecular reactivation process. The rate constants for spontaneous reactivation of t-PA from the adducts formed with the three inhibitors are K = 0.25-12.3 x 10(-2) min-1 at pH 7.4 and 25.0 +/- 0.1 degrees C and pH-dependent with an apparent pK approximately 8.3. The recovery of t-PA activity from the adducts in 40% human plasma buffered at pH 7.4 is the same or twice that in plain buffer. The presence of fibrin has a slight effect on inactivation but not on reactivation. The modulation of enzyme activity by reversible generation of the phosphonylated adducts has potential for medical application.

Enantioselective and reversible inhibition of trypsin and alpha-chymotrypsin by phosphonate esters

Trypsin is inactivated by the levorotatory enantiomers (most likely PS) of 4-nitrophenyl 4-H-, 4-CH3-,4-OCH3-, and 4-Cl-phenacyl methylphosphonates (PMNs) with second-order rate constants between 231 and 884 M-1 s-1. 4-NO2-PMN hydrolyzes before inhibiting the enzyme. The second-order rate constants for the inactivation of alpha-chymotrypsin by the levorotatory enantiomers of the five PMNs are between 37,000 and 770,000 M-1 s-1, and those for the dextrorotatory enantiomers are between 400 and 640 M-1 s-1; the enantioselectivity is 90-1880. Specific rotation [alpha]22D of the faster-reacting enantiomer of 4-CH3-PMN with trypsin and alpha-chymotrypsin is -30 +/- 6 degrees. 31P NMR of the adducts shows a signal at 41.0 ppm, 10 ppm downfield from the parent compound. Results of molecular mechanics and dynamics calculations show that the principal interactions are between the phosphonyl group and constituents of the oxyanion hole and between the aromatic fragment and residues in the binding regions of the enzymes. Trypsin activity returns from its phenacyl methylphosphonyl adducts on the hour time scale and in reversed order to the rates of inactivation within the series. Recovery of alpha-chymotrypsin activity from the adducts formed with the (-) enantiomers is on a slower time scale still, whereas its recovery from the adducts formed with the (+) enantiomers is on the second to minute time scale. The data support a mechanism of reactivation involving rate-determining intramolecular displacement of Ser by the carbonyl hydrate of the phenacyl moiety. The pH-rate profiles for trypsin reactivation from its adducts indicate involvement of an ionizable group with pKa approximately 8.0. The pH dependence and solvent isotope effects are small in most cases. The compounds demonstrate favorable properties for controllable and temporary modulation of enzyme activity.

Direct observation and elucidation of the structures of aged and nonaged phosphorylated cholinesterases by 31P NMR spectroscopy

31P NMR spectroscopy of butyrylcholinesterase (BChE), acetylcholinesterase (AChE), and chymotrypsin (Cht) inhibited by pinacolyl methylphosphonofluoridate (soman), methylphosphonodifluoridate (MPDF), and diisopropyl phosphorofluoridate (DFP) allowed direct observation of the OP-linked moiety of aged (nonreactivatable) and nonaged organophosphorus (OP)-ChE conjugates. The 31P NMR chemical shifts of OP-ChE conjugates clearly demonstrated insertion of a P-O- bond into the active site of aged OP-ChE adducts. The OP moiety of nonaged OP-ChEs was shown to be uncharged. The OP-bound pinacolyl moiety of soman-inhibited and aged AChE was detached completely, whereas only partial dealkylation of the pinacolyl group was observed for soman-inhibited BChEs. This suggests that the latter enzyme reacted with the less active stereoisomer(s) of soman. In the case of soman-inhibited Cht, no dealkylation could be experimentally detected for any of the four stereoisomers of OP-Cht adducts. Results are consistent with the contention that the phenomenon of enzyme-catalyzed dealkylation of OP adducts of serine hydrolases strongly depends on the orientation of both the catalytic His and the carboxyl side chain of either Glu or Asp positioned next to the catalytic Ser. The denatured protein of aged OP-ChE or OP-Cht is a convenient leaving group in nucleophilic displacements of tetrahedral OP compounds despite the presence of a P-O- bond. This indicates that the unusual resistance to reactivation of the aged enzyme cannot be ascribed to simple electrostatic repulsion of an approaching nucleophile. The broadening of the 31P NMR signal of native OP-ChEs relative to that of OP-Cht is in agreement with the crystal structure of AChE, showing that the active site region of ChEs in solution resides in a deep, narrow gorge.

Engineering resistance to 'aging' of phosphylated human acetylcholinesterase. Role of hydrogen bond network in the active center

Recombinant human acetylcholinesterase (HuAChE) and selected mutants (E202Q, Y337A, E450A) were studied with respect to catalytic activity towards charged and noncharged substrates, phosphylation with organophosphorus (OP) inhibitors and subsequent aging of the OP-conjugates. Amino acid E450, unlike residues E202 and Y337, is not within interaction distance from the active center. Yet, the bimolecular rates of catalysis and phosphylation are 30-100 fold lower for both E450A and E202Q compared to Y337A or the wild type and in both mutants the resulting OP-conjugates show striking resistance to aging. It is proposed that a hydrogen bond network, that maintains the functional architecture of the active center, involving water molecules and residues E202 and E450, is responsible for the observed behaviour.

Diastereomeric phosphonate ester adducts of chymotrypsin: 31P-NMR measurements

Generation of diastereomeric phosphonate ester adducts of chymotrypsin was evidenced for the first time by 31P NMR and spectrophotometric kinetic measurements. 31P NMR signals were recorded for 4-nitrophenyl 2-propyl methylphosphonate (IMN) at 32.2 ppm and for its hydrolysis product at 26.3 ppm downfield from phosphoric acid. The inhibition of alpha-chymotrypsin at pH > 8.0 by the faster reacting enantiomer of IMN or 2-propyl methylphosphonochloridate (IMCL), or other phosphonate ester analogs of these compounds, all caused a approximately 6.0 ppm downfield shift of the 31P signal to the 39-40 ppm region. IMN, when applied below the stoichiometric amount of chymotrypsin, under the same conditions, generated two signals, at 39.0 and at 37.4 ppm. Scans accumulated in hourly intervals showed the decomposition of both diastereomers, with approximate half-lives of 12 h at pH 8.0 and 22 degrees C, into a species with a resonance at 35.5 ppm. The most likely reaction to account for the appearance of this new peak is the enzymic dealkylation of the isopropyl group from the covalently bound phosphonate ester. We base this conclusion mostly on the similarity of the upfield shift to the hydrolysis of phosphonate esters. Contrary to experience with phosphate ester adducts of serine proteases, no signal was detected higher than 25.0 ppm downfield from phosphoric acid for several phosphonate ester adducts of chymotrypsin and in no case did the resonance for the adduct shift further downfield in the course of the experiments.

Refined crystal structures of "aged" and "non-aged" organophosphoryl conjugates of gamma-chymotrypsin

"Aged" organophosphoryl conjugates of serine hydrolases differ from the corresponding "non-aged" conjugates in their striking resistance to nucleophilic reactivation. The refined X-ray structures of "aged" and "non-aged" organophosphoryl conjugates of gamma-chymotrypsin were compared in order to understand the molecular basis for this resistance of "aged" conjugates. "Aged" and "non-aged" crystalline organophosphoryl-gamma-chymotrypsin conjugates were obtained by prolonged soaking of native gamma-chymotrypsin crystals with appropriate organophosphates. Thus, a representative "non-aged" conjugate, diethylphosphoryl-gamma-chymotrypsin, was obtained by soaking native crystals with paraoxon (diethyl-p-nitrophenyl phosphate), and a closely related "aged" conjugate, monoisopropyl-gamma-chymotrypsin, was obtained by soaking with diisopropylphosphorofluoridate. In both crystalline conjugates, the refined structures clearly reveal a high occupancy of the active site by the appropriate organophosphoryl moiety within covalent bonding distance of Ser195 O gamma. Whereas in the "non-aged" conjugate both ethyl groups can be visualized clearly, in the putative "aged" conjugate, as expected, only one isopropyl group is present. There is virtually no difference between the "aged" and "non-aged" conjugates either with respect to the conformation of the polypeptide backbone as a whole or with respect to the positioning of the side-chains within the active site. In the "aged" conjugate, however, close proximity (2.6 A) of the negatively charged phosphate oxygen atom of the dealkylated organophosphoryl group to His57 N epsilon 2 indicates the presence of a salt bridge between these two moieties. In contrast, in the "non-aged" conjugate the DEP moiety retains its two alkyl groups; thus, lacking a negative oxygen atom, it does not enter into such a charge-charge interaction and its nearest oxygen atom is 3.6 A away from His57 N epsilon 2. It is suggested that steric constraints imposed by the salt bridge in the "aged" conjugate lie at the basis of its resistance to reactivation.

Prophylaxis against organophosphate poisoning by an enzyme hydrolysing organophosphorus compounds in mice

Parathion hydrolase purified from Pseudomonas sp. was injected i.v. into mice to demonstrate the feasibility of using organophosphorus acid anhydride (OPA) hydrolases as pretreatment against organophosphates (OP) poisoning. Results show that exogenous administration of as low as 7 to 26 micrograms of parathion hydrolase conferred protection against challenge with multiple median lethal doses (LD50) of diethyl p-nitrophenyl phosphate (paraoxon; 3.8-7.3 x LD50) and diethylfluorophosphate (DEFP; 2.9 x LD50) without administration of supportive drugs. The extent of protection observed was consistent with blood-parathion hydrolase levels and the kinetic constants of the enzymatic hydrolysis of paraoxon and DEFP by parathion hydrolase. OPA hydrolases not only appear to be potential prophylactic drugs capable of increasing survival ratio following OP intoxication but also to alleviate post-exposure symptoms.