Acetylcholinesterase, phosphorylated esteratic

The ketoxime derivative fluvoxamine (12) is a newer antidepressant thought to potentiate the action of 5-hydroxytryptamine76. Oxacillin (13), cefuroxime (14) as well as the monobactam aztreonam (15) represent potent antibacterial agents of the beta-lactam type77. The aldoxime pralidoxime (16) and a number of bi.v-quarternary oximes, such as obidoxime (17), can be used as reactivators of the phosphorylated esteratic site of acetylcholinesterase that occurs in the presence of organophosphate inhibitors78,79. 

The OPPs inhibit acetylcholinesterase (AChE) by phosphorylating the esteratic site of the enzyme. As a result of AChE inhibition, ACh accumulates and binds to muscarinic and nicotinic receptors throughout the nervous system. Transformation of OPPs in the organisms takes place by conversion of the phosphorothioate (P=S) group to oxon (P=0) analogs. These oxo compounds are of concern because they are the activated forms of the OPPs, with a considerably stronger inhibition of acetylcholinesterase activity (27). 

Nerve agents phosphorylate or phosphonylate the serine hydroxyl group at the esteratic part of the active site of the enzyme acetylcholinesterase (AChE EC 3.1.1.7) (Figure 66.2). AChE plays a key role in cholinergic transmission in the peripheral and central nervous system and, consequently, its inhibition is hfe-endangering (Taylor, 1996 Marrs, 1993). 

The phosphorus ester molecule, blocking the activity of acetylcholinesterase, first takes up a steric orientation determined by the anionic and acidic groups of the enzyme, and this is then followed by hydrolysis of the phosphorus ester and by phosphorylation of the hydroxyl group of serine at the esteratic site of the enzyme ... 

The phosphorylation of acetylcholinesterase is rapid while the hydrolysis of the phosphorylated enzyme is a slow process. Therefore, the enzyme is unable to function on prolonged blocking of the esteratic site. Acetylcholine accumulates which finally results in endogenic acetylcholine poisoning. 

The mechanism of the action of acetylcholinesterase purified from the electric organs of Electrophorus electricus involves the attraction of the positively charged nitrogen of acetylcholine to an anionic site on the enzyme and cleavage of the substrate at an esteratic site of a nucleophilic character. The irreversible inhibition by the alkyl phosphates, tetraethyl pyrophosphate (TEPP) and diisopropyl-fluorophosphate (DFP) may be due to phosphorylation of the nucleophilic esteratic site. The phosphorylation by DFP of the phenolic hydroxyl group of free tyrosine has been demonstrated by Ashbolt and Rydon. Chymotrypsin and citrus fruit acetylesterase are also inhibited by DFP and TEPP. ... 

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