Comparative sensitivity of cholinesterases in vertebrates and invertebrates to highly specific organophosphorus inhibitors,diisopropyl fluorophosphate (DFP) and (2-ethoxymethyl phosphoryl thioethyl) ethyl (methyl) sulphonium sulphomethylate (GD-42)

The review presents the data on a comparative reactivity of 68 cholinesterase preparations from various organs and tissues in a number of vertebrates and invertebrates based on the sensitivity to the two highly specific and most studied organophosphorus inhibitors, diisopropyl fluorophosphates (DFP) and (2-ethoxymethyl phosphoryl thioethyl) ethyl (methyl) sulphonium sulphomethylate (GD-42). An analysis of the data obtained suggests a great diversity of enzymologic characteristics of cholinesterase preparations in vertebrates and invertebrates observed even in closely related enzymes in animals at virtually the same level of evolutionary development.