Formation of an unstable covalent intermediate during the inhibition of electric-eel acetylcholinesterase with 1,3,2-dioxaphosphorinane 2-oxides.

The kinetics of interaction of eel acetylcholinesterase (EC 3.1.1.7) with 1,3,2-dioxaphosphorinane 2-oxides were investigated. It was demonstrated that the rate of spontaneous re-activation as well as the re-activation profile in the presence of 2-pyridine aldoxime methiodide of the inhibited enzyme are irrespective of the leaving group of three inhibitors and exhibit the same values. The dissociation constant of the corresponding Michaelis complex was evaluated by two independent methods and the results were found to be in close agreement. It was shown that the active site is essential for interaction between the enzyme and the various dioxaphosphorinanes. The mixed anhydride of diethyl phosphoric acid and 2-hydroxy-1,3,2-dioxaphosphorinane 2-oxide behaves exactly as would be predicted from a typical diethyl phosphate inhibitor. Enxyme that was incubated with the cyclic acid or the corresponding methyl ester recovered immediately upon extensive dilution. Inhibition of enzyme in the presence of high concentratasions of the corresponding 2-chloro and 2-fluoro derivatives decreased the regeneration rates as well as the maximal amount of the re-activated enzyme. This observation could not be explained in terms of a classical aging process. On the basis of the kinetics observations it is suggested that an unstable covalent phospho-enzyme intermediate is formed during the reaction between acetylcholinesterase and 1,3,2-dioxaphosphorinane 2-oxides.     

Conformational differences between aged and nonaged pyrenebutyl-containing organophosphoryl conjugates of chymotrypsin as detected by optical spectroscopy

Homologous aged and nonaged fluorescent organophosphorus conjugates of alpha-chymotrypsin (Cht) were used in a comparative spectroscopic study of the conformation of their active sites, employing the pyrene group as the fluorescent probe. Steady-state fluorescence measurements showed that the quantum yield of the pyrene probe which is stoichiometrically attached to the active site is ca. 20% lower in the aged conjugate, pyrenebutyl-O-P(O)(O-)-Cht (PBP-Cht), than in the nonaged conjugate, pyrenebutyl-O-P-(O)(OC2H5)-Cht (PBEP-Cht). Furthermore, fluorescence decay data indicate that quenching is dynamic and is not caused by oxygen. These data, together with collisional quenching data, imply that quenching originates in an internal interaction of the fluorophore with a group within the protein. Thus, interaction of the pyrene moiety with the polypeptide chain is significantly stronger in the aged than in the nonaged conjugate, implying a different orientation of the fluorophore with respect to the protein. Circular dichroism measurements, which reflect the asymmetry of the bound pyrene in the ground state, as well as circularly polarized luminescence studies, which reflect its asymmetry in the excited state, also show that the relative configuration of the pyrene moiety and the polypeptide chain is significantly altered upon aging. Aged conjugates obtained by use of various fluorescenct organophosphates [pyrenebutyl-O-P(O)Cl2, pyrenebutyl-O-P(O)(p-nitrophenoxy)Cl, pyrenebutyl-O-P(O)(p-nitrophenoxy)2] exhibit similar spectroscopic features, thus substantiating the hypothesis that instantaneous aging, by use of pyrenebutyl-O-P(O)Cl2, and dynamic aging, by gradual removal of an aryloxy group, yield a similar product. This finding provides strong support for the formation of a P-O- moiety in the aged conjugates, since the only expected common product of the two processes is PB-O-P(O)(O-)-Cht. Formation of excimers of the pyrene-containing organophosphorylchymotrypsin conjugates at concentrations above 3 X 10(-6) M is also reported.     

A quaternary anti-cholinesterase probe for determining the integrity of the blood--brain barrier

7-(Methylethoxyphosphinyloxy)-1-methyl quinolinium iodide (MEPQ), a new quaternary anti-cholinesterase (anti-ChE) compound was prepared and evaluated as a potential probe for assessing changes in the blood-brain barrier (B-BB) permeability. MEPQ was found to be 170 times more potent in its cholinesterase inhibitory activity than phospholine iodide, a previously reported anti-ChE probe in B-BB research. In rats and mice with impaired B-BB induced by osmotic opening, MEPQ readily penetrated through the damaged site as demonstrated by considerable reduction of ChE activity. In controls, brain ChE activity remained unaffected. It is suggested that MEPQ is a useful probe for both qualitative (histological staining) and quantitative (brain homogenated) assessment of permeability changes in the B-BB.     

Differences in conformational stability between native and phosphorylated acetylcholinesterase as evidenced by a monoclonal antibody.

Monoclonal antibody 25B1 generated against diisopropyl phosphorofluoridate inhibited fetal bovine serum acetylcholinesterase has been extensively characterized with respect to its anticholinesterase properties. This antibody demonstrated considerably different properties from previously reported inhibitory antibodies raised against acetylcholinesterase in terms of the degree of inhibition (greater than 98%), the high degree of specificity, and the stability of the antigen-antibody complex. Monoclonal antibody 25B1 appears to be directed against a conformational epitope located in close proximity to the catalytic center of the enzyme and was found to be most suitable for studying the stabilization of the active site of acetylcholinesterase against denaturation by heat or guanidine following phosphorylation by organophosphorus anticholinesterase compounds. This approach allowed the determination of stability rank order of various phosphorylated acetylcholinesterases. Among all the organophosphates tested, the combination of a methyl group and a negatively charged oxygen attached to the P atom, CH3P(O)(O-)-AChE, conferred the greatest protection to the active site of aged or nonaged organophosphoryl conjugates of acetylcholinesterase.