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Paraoxon sensitive phenylvalerate hydrolase in assessing the severity of acute paraoxon poisoning.

INTRODUCTION: Intoxications with organophosphorous compounds, especially paraoxon, are frequent. Organophosphorous compounds inhibit serine hydrolases such as acetylcholine, butyrilcholine, and carboxyl esterases although acetylcholine and butyrylcholine are too sensitive to paraoxon to be useful markers of severity. They cannot show a dose-dependent inhibition during an acute organophosphorous compounds exposure because maximal enzyme inhibition is reached at very low organophosphorous compounds concentrations. PURPOSE: To determine in vitro the dose-effect relationship between the activity of the paraoxon-sensitive phenylvalerate hydrolase, a member of the carboxvl esterases family, and the paraoxon dose, and to assess its utility as a putatively less sensitive enzyme marker to monitor the severity of an acute paraoxon intoxication. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Phenylvalerate hydrolase and butyrylcholine activities were determined in serum of nine healthy human volunteers before and after addition of different concentrations of paraoxon. The determination of phenyl-valerate hydrolase activity was carried out using a modification of the method described by Johnson. A commercially available kit was used to measure butyrylcholine activity. RESULTS: Paraoxon inhibits phenyl-valerate hydrolase activity at concentrations above 10 M. Maximal inhibition (approximately 50% of baseline) is achieved at concentrations above 2.5 x 10(-7) M. The IC50 value of paraoxon for phenyl-valerate hydrolase is 34+/-2 nM. The uninhibited phenyl-valerate hydrolase activity is due to paraoxon-resistent isoforms. Paraoxon begins inhibiting butyrylcholine activity at concentrations above 10(-9) M. At concentrations above 5 x 10(-5) M, no butyrylcholine activity is measulrable. The IC50 value of paraoxon for butyrylcholine is 150+/-23 nM. CONCLUSION: The paraoxon-sensitive subunit of phenyl-valerate hydrolase shows dose-dependent inhibition when exposed to paraoxon in vitro, but it is even more sensitive than butyrylcholine to paraoxon inhibition. Determinations of phenyl-valerate hydrolase activity to assess the severity of an acute organophosphorous compounds poisoning cannot be recommended, but phenyl-valerate hydrolase may have utility in worker surveillance.

Biomarkers↗

Paraoxon hydrolysis vs. covalent binding in the elimination of paraoxon in the rabbit.

Hydrolysis and covalent binding to nonessential esterases are two biochemical processes which can prevent paraoxon from reacting with the essential enzyme, acetylcholinesterase. Both processes have been proposed as the primary route of paraoxon detoxification in vivo. These experiments were designed to assess the relative contribution of each pathway to the disappearance of paraoxon in the rabbit. In vitro, paraoxon disappeared from whole rabbit blood with a t 1/2 of 17.7 sec. Hydrolysis by paraoxonase (EC 3.1.1.2) accounted entirely for this disappearance and covalent binding contributed essentially nothing. In vivo, following an iv injection of 0.15 mg/kg paraoxon, serum paraoxonase hydrolyzed as much as 41% of the injected dose within the first 30 sec. Pretreatment of rabbits with an ip injection of tri-o-tolyl phosphate eliminated more than 95% of the paraoxon binding sites. However, pretreatment with tri-o-tolyl phosphate had no significant effect on the t 1/2 or volume of distribution of paraoxon, indicating that covalent binding sites did not contribute significantly to the clearance of paraoxon from whole rabbits under these conditions. Hydrolysis of paraoxon by tissue paraoxonases, in addition to that catalyzed by paraoxonase in the blood, could account for its rapid metabolism. These findings demonstrate that paraoxonase has a major role in the disappearance of paraoxon in the rabbit. This suggests that susceptibility of people to chronic paraoxon poisoning may vary, according to their inherited level and type of serum paraoxonase.

Animals↗

Interactions of the organophosphates paraoxon and methyl paraoxon with mouse brain acetylcholinesterase.

The mechanism of acute toxicity of the organophosphorus insecticides has been known for many years to be inhibition of the critical enzyme acetylcholinesterase (EC 3.1.1.7), with the resulting excess acetylcholine accumulation leading to symptoms of cholinergic excess. The bimolecular inhibition rate constant k(i) has been used for decades to describe the inhibitory capacity of organophosphates toward acetylcholinesterase. In the current study, a new approach based on continuous systems modeling was used to determine the appk(i)s of paraoxon and methyl paraoxon towards mouse brain acetylcholinesterase over a wide range of oxon concentrations. These studies revealed that the bimolecular inhibition rate constants for paraoxon and methyl paraoxon appeared to change as a function of oxon concentrations. For example, the appk(i) found with a paraoxon concentration of 1000 nM was 0.16 nM-1h-1, whereas that for 0.1 nM paraoxon was 1.60 nM-1h-1, indicating that the efficiency of phosphorylation appeared to decrease as the paraoxon concentration increased. These data suggested that the current understanding of how these organophosphates interact with acetylcholinesterase is incomplete. Modeling studies using several different kinetic schemes, as well as studies using recombinant monomeric mouse brain acetylcholinesterase, suggested the existence of a second binding site in addition to the active site of the enzyme, to which paraoxon and methyl paraoxon bound, probably in a reversibly manner. Occupation of this site likely rendered more difficult the subsequent phosphorylation of the active site by other oxon molecules, probably by steric hindrance or allosteric modification of the active site. It cannot be ascertained from the current study whether the putative second binding site is identical to or shares common elements with the well-characterized propidium-specific peripheral binding site of acetylcholinesterase.

Acetylcholinesterase↗

[Changes in the cholinesterase activity and glucose concentration in the blood induced by paraoxon in rabbits immunized against paraoxon].

The immunization of rabbits with a paraoxon-HSA-conjugate resulted in an antibody response with titres of 1:25000 to 1:100000 of antisera dilution and average affinity constants K0 of 10(6) M-1 and heterogeneity indices of 0.8 to 0.9 calculated by means of the Sips equation. The serum cholinesterases and the erythrocyte acetylcholinesterase in immunized rabbits were protected against a stronger inhibition by parenteral application of paraoxon. An increase of blood glucose after paraoxon application to immunized rabbits could not be observed but was detectable in unimmunized animals.

Acetylcholinesterase↗

Relationship between parathion and paraoxon toxicokinetics, lung metabolic activity, and cholinesterase inhibition in guinea pig and rabbit lungs.

Kinetic parameters of parathion and paraoxon uptake were determined in isolated and perfused rabbit and guinea pig lungs. They were related to organophosphate-induced lung cholinesterase inhibition. A single pass procedure was used to perfuse the lungs with an artificial medium perfusate containing paraoxon or parathion. The paraoxon and parathion concentrations were determined in the effluents collected at chosen intervals over an 18-min period beginning at the start of perfusion. Three inflowing concentrations (1 nmol/ml, 10 nmol/ml, and 20 nmol/ml) were tested in guinea pig lungs and one (10 nmol/ml) in rabbit lungs. Cholinesterase activity was determined at time 0 and at the end of the experiment. The lungs abundantly extracted paraoxon and parathion over the perfusion period. The extraction ratio was consistently greater in guinea pig than in rabbit lungs. The uptake velocity varied biexponentially in time, suggesting the existence of two compartments. Initial uptake velocities (A, B) and slopes (alpha and beta) were calculated for both compartments. In guinea pigs, A, B and A + B increased proportionally to the supply rate of paraoxon and parathion while a and b remained constant. No significant difference was observed between parathion and paraoxon uptake kinetics. Parameter B was the only one to differ significantly between the two species (rabbits: 8.19 +/- 1.53 for parathion and 6.85 +/- 1.26 for paraoxon; guinea pigs: 12.75 +/- 0.88 for parathion and 15.02 +/- 3.84 for paraoxon). In the lungs of both species, there was a linear relation between y, the percentage of cholinesterase inhibition induced by either organophosphate, and X, the total amount of drug taken up by the lung tissue (in nmol/g/18 min). The following equations were obtained: y = 0.128 x + 0.979 (R2 = 0.89, p < 0.001 for paraoxon); y = 0.120 x - 6.57 (R2 = 0.82, p < 0.005 for parathion). No difference was observed between the two organophosphates. After treatment with the cytochrome P450 inhibitor piperonyl butoxide, the above relations ceased to apply, but this treatment did not influence the kinetics of paraoxon and parathion uptake. The IC50 value calculated for paraoxon, i.e., the paraoxon concentration required to produce 50% inhibition of lung cholinesterase activity, was similar for guinea pigs (2.22 10(-7) +/- 0.22 M) and rabbits (2.36 10(-7) +/- 0.24 M). In conclusion, the biexponential evolution of the velocity of paraoxon and parathion uptake by the lungs thus demonstrates the presence of two pools. The lower extraction ratios calculated for rabbit lungs reflect the lower initial uptake velocity of the second compartment. In the range of concentrations investigated in guinea pigs, no saturable mechanism could be demonstrated for paraoxon and parathion. Cytochrome P450-related lung metabolic activity, through which parathion is converted to paraoxon, appears as a major step in parathion-induced lung cholinesterase inhibition, although it does not appear to affect parathion toxicokinetics.

Animals↗

Detoxication of paraoxon by rat liver homogenate and serum carboxylesterases and A-esterases.

Paraoxon, the active metabolite of parathion, can be detoxified through a noncatalytic pathway by carboxylesterases and a catalytic pathway by calcium-dependent A-esterases, producing p-nitrophenol as a common metabolite. The detoxication patterns of carboxylesterases and A-esterases were investigated in vitro in the present study with a high tissue concentration (75 mg/mL rat liver homogenate or 50% rat serum solution) to more closely reflect enzyme concentrations in intact tissues. A final paraoxon concentration of 3.75 microM was used to incubate with liver homogenates or serum solutions for 5 seconds or 3, 5, 15, or 25 minutes; also 0.625, 1.25, 2.5, 3.125, 3.75, or 5.0 microM paraoxon (final concentration) was incubated with liver homogenates or serum solutions for 15 minutes. Phenyl saligenin cyclic phosphate and EDTA were used to inhibit carboxylesterases and A-esterases, respectively. Significant amounts of p-nitrophenol were generated with or without either inhibitor during a 15 minute incubation with paraoxon from low (0.625 microM) to high (5.0 microM) concentrations. The amount of p-nitrophenol generated via carboxylesterase phosphorylation was greater than via A-esterase-mediated hydrolysis in the initial period of incubation or when incubating with a low concentration of paraoxon. Plateau shape curves of p-nitrophenol concentration versus time or paraoxon concentration indicated that carboxylesterase phosphorylation was saturable. When incubated for long time intervals or with high concentrations of paraoxon, more p-nitrophenol was generated via A-esterase-mediated hydrolysis than from carboxylesterase phosphorylation. The ratio of paraoxon concentration to tissue amount used in in vitro assays of this study was equivalent to dosing a rat with toxicologically relevant dosages. These in vitro data suggest that both carboxylesterases and A-esterases detoxify paraoxon in vivo; carboxylesterases may be an important mode of paraoxon detoxication in initial exposures to paraoxon or parathion before they become saturated, whereas A-esterases may contribute to paraoxon detoxication in repeated exposures to paraoxon or parathion because they will not become inhibited and will remain catalytically active unlike the carboxylesterases. The importance of carboxylesterases in detoxication of paraoxon was verified by an in vivo study. In rats pretreated with tri-o-tolyl phosphate, an in vivo carboxylesterase inhibitor, brain acetylcholinesterase was significantly inhibited after intravenous exposure to parathion. No significant inhibition of brain acetylcholinesterase was observed in rats pretreated with corn oil.

Acetylcholinesterase↗

Inhibition of N-methyl-D-aspartate receptors increases paraoxon-induced apoptosis in cultured neurons.

Organophosphorus (OP) compounds, used as insecticides and chemical warfare agents, are potent neurotoxins. We examined the neurotoxic effect of paraoxon (O,O-diethyl O-p-nitrophenyl phosphate), an organophosphate compound, and the role of NMDA receptors as a mechanism of action in cultured cerebellar granule cells. Paraoxon is neurotoxic to cultured rat cerebellar granule cells in a time- and concentration-dependent manner. Cerebellar granule cells are less sensitive to the neurotoxic effects of paraoxon on day in vitro (DIV) 4 than neurons treated on DIV 8. Surprisingly, the N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptor antagonist, MK-801, enhances paraoxon-mediated neurotoxicity suggesting that NMDA receptors may play a protective role. Pretreatment with a subtoxic concentration of N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) [100 microM] protects about 40% of the vulnerable neurons that would otherwise die from paraoxon-induced neurotoxicity. Moreover, addition of a neuroprotective concentration of NMDA 3 h after treatment with paraoxon provides the same level of protection. Because paraoxon-mediated neuronal cell death is time-dependent, we hypothesized that apoptosis may be involved. Paraoxon increases apoptosis about 10-fold compared to basal levels. The broad-spectrum caspase inhibitor (Boc-D-FMK) and the caspase-9-specific inhibitor (Z-LEHD-FMK) protect against paraoxon-mediated apoptosis, paraoxon-stimulated caspase-3 activity and neuronal cell death. MK-801 increases, whereas NMDA blocks paraoxon-induced apoptosis and paraoxon-stimulated caspase-3 activity. These results suggest that activation of NMDA receptors protect neurons against paraoxon-induced neurotoxicity by blocking apoptosis initiated by paraoxon.

Amino Acid Chloromethyl Ketones↗

Phosphotriesterase decreases paraoxon toxicity in mice.

The effect of phosphotriesterase (PTE) on the ip toxicity of paraoxon was studied in mice. The PTE preparation (0.1 ml; paraoxon-hydrolyzing activity, 1.5 mumol/min) was given iv. Cholinesterase activities were measured 2 hr after paraoxon administration. The PTE treatment, given 10 min before paraoxon, did not protect serum cholinesterase (ChE) against the inhibiting effect of paraoxon, but it clearly prevented the decrease of the brain ChE activity. In PTE-nontreated animals ChE was reduced by 60% at the paraoxon dose of 0.5 mg/kg, whereas in PTE-treated mice a significant reduction was not seen until a paraoxon dose of 2.0 mg/kg. The iv injection of PTE did prevent the decrease in brain ChE activity by paraoxon, when it was administered before or immediately after the paraoxon. PTE, injected 15 min after paraoxon, resulted in a minor protection in the brain ChE activities. The iv injection of PTE increased the serum paraoxon-hydrolyzing activity up to 5.1-fold. When the same amounts of PTE were administered ip, im, or sc, the increases in the hydrolyzing activities were 4.7-, 2.5-, and 1.8-fold, respectively. The activities returned to the normal level within 24 hr after the PTE. The elimination half-life of the activity of PTE administered iv was approximately 5.5 hr. In conclusion, PTE substantially prevents the toxicity of paraoxon in mice by hydrolyzing paraoxon in circulation.

Animals↗

Prevention of tolerance to the organophosphorus anticholinesterase paraoxon with carboxylesterase inhibitors.

The contribution of carboxylesterase (CarbE) to the development of tolerance to the organophosphorus anticholinesterase (OP-ANTIChE) paraoxon (diethyl p-nitrophenyl phosphate) was investigated in rats. Daily injections (20 days) of paraoxon (0.09 mg/kg) led to a cumulative dose that was 9.0-fold higher than the acute ED50 of 0.20 mg/kg, s.c. During this period, the rats did not demonstrate visible signs of cholinergic hyperactivity nor did they die, despite the persistence of critically reduced brain acetylcholinesterase (AChE) activity (20-30% of control). In addition, none of these rats died following the administration of a dose of carbachol (3.1 mg/kg, i.p.) that was an LD90 in untreated rats. Daily treatment with the CarbE inhibitors CBDP [2-(o-cresyl)-4H-1,3,2-benzodioxaphosphorin-2-oxide] (2 mg/kg, s.c.) or iso-OMPA (tetraisopropylpyrophosphoramide) (3 mg/kg, i.p.) followed by paraoxon (0.09 mg/kg, s.c.) 60 min later prevented the development of tolerance to paraoxon, since signs of cholinergic hyperactivity were observed and rats died on day 4 of the combined treatment. In tolerant rats, one-time CBDP or iso-OMPA pretreatment increased toxicity to paraoxon, causing the death of all rats within 60 min. The increase in paraoxon toxicity was correlated with inhibition of a plasma CarbE, with high affinity toward alpha-naphthyl acetate (alpha-NA) and to the inhibitors CBDP, iso-OMPA, and paraoxon. Inhibition of a plasma CarbE with high affinity toward p-nitrophenyl acetate (p-NPA) and low affinity to the above inhibitors did not potentiate paraoxon toxicity significantly. Neither the liver CarbEs, which showed high affinity to iso-OMPA, nor the inhibition of butyrylcholinesterase (BuChE) by iso-OMPA in plasma and liver potentiated paraoxon toxicity. By eliminating plasma CarbE (alpha-NA) as potential binding sites for paraoxon with either CBDP or iso-OMPA, paraoxon can exert its toxicity to a greater extent at its specific target site, the functionally important AChE at cholinergic synapses. It is concluded that plasma CarbE (alpha-NA) provided a significant protection against paraoxon intoxication and that the inhibition of this enzyme prevented the tolerance development seen with repeated paraoxon treatments.

Acetylcholinesterase↗

Effects of low concentrations of paraoxon on Ca(2+) mobilization in a human parotid salivary cell-line HSY.

The salivary gland is a target organ of organophosphate pesticides (OPs). Inhibition of acetylcholinesterase (AChE) by OPs leads to a decrease in acetylcholine (ACh) breakdown that results in overstimulation of muscarinic cholinergic receptors (mChR). However, OPs may also directly interact with downstream elements of the phosphoinositide (PI) signalling pathway coupled with mChR. The present study examined the effects of exposure to low concentrations of the OP paraoxon on inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate (IP(3)) formation and Ca(2+) mobilization in response to ACh or ATP in the human parotid cell-line HSY. Exposure to 0.1 and 1 nM, but not 10 nM, paraoxon for 24 hr significantly elevated the basal cytosolic free Ca(2+) ([Ca(2+)](i)). This increase was abolished by atropine. Ca(2+) release from the IP(3)-sensitive store in response to ACh or ATP, a P2Y-nucleotide agonist, was significantly increased in cells pre-exposed to 0.1 nM paraoxon. However, IP(3) formation was inhibited by paraoxon but mChR expression was not altered. Although IP(3) receptor expression was not changed, Ca(2+) release elicited by IP(3) in streptolysin O toxin-permeabilized cells was significantly larger in cells pre-exposed to 0.1 nM paraoxon, suggesting that paraoxon increases the sensitivity of IP(3) receptors. Paraoxon exposure also induced a concentration-dependent reduction in the total capacity of intracellular Ca(2+) stores, whereas the capacity of the IP(3)-sensitive Ca(2+) store was not altered by paraoxon, as judged by discharging of the IP(3)-sensitive Ca(2+) store with thapsigargin (TG). Ca(2+) influx stimulated by ACh or ATP was also enhanced by 0.1 nM, but not 1 and 10 nM, paraoxon. On the other hand, Ca(2+) influx activated by TG was enhanced by exposure to all concentrations of paraoxon, indicating that paraoxon modulates the Ca(2+) entry pathway. These results suggest that low concentrations of paraoxon interact with elements of the PI pathway, enhancing Ca(2+) release and influx mechanisms.

Acetylcholine↗

Combined forced running stress and subclinical paraoxon exposure have little effect on pyridostigmine-induced acute toxicity in rats.

Pyridostigmine is a short-acting inhibitor of cholinesterase (ChE) used as a pretreatment against potential nerve agent exposure during the Persian Gulf War. As pyridostigmine contains a quaternary ammonium group, it is generally believed to elicit changes in the peripheral nervous system function only. It has been hypothesized, however, that the neurotoxicity of pyridostigmine may be altered by either stress or combined exposures to other toxicants. We evaluated the effects of forced running stress, exposure to the organophosphate anticholinesterase paraoxon, or a combination of both on the acute neurotoxicity of pyridostigmine. ChE (blood, diaphragm, and selected brain regions) and carboxylesterase (CE; liver, plasma) inhibition was also evaluated. Young adult male Sprague-Dawley rats were either given vehicle or paraoxon (0.1 mg/kg, i.m.) and subsets placed in their home cage or forced to run on a treadmill for 60 min. Pyridostigmine (0, 10 or 30 mg/kg, p.o.) was given 60 min after paraoxon dosing and rats were evaluated for cholinergic toxicity just prior to sacrifice 60 min later. No signs of toxicity were noted following paraoxon exposure while both dosages of pyridostigmine (10 and 30 mg/kg, p.o.) elicited signs of functional toxicity. Toxicity was not different with combined paraoxon-pyridostigmine exposures and forced running did not influence toxicity under any conditions. Paraoxon (0.1 mg/kg, i.m.) caused moderate (23-46%) ChE inhibition in blood, diaphragm and brain 2 h after exposure. Pyridostigmine (10 or 30 mg/kg, p.o.) caused extensive inhibition of blood (88-94%) and diaphragm (75-85%) ChE activity but no significant effect on brain regional ChE activity. Forced running stress did not influence the degree of tissue ChE inhibition following either paraoxon, pyridostigmine or paraoxon-pyridostigmine combined exposures. CE activities were inhibited (26-43%) in plasma and liver by paraoxon but inhibition was not influenced by either stress or combined paraoxon-pyridostigmine exposures. These results suggest that subclinical paraoxon exposure and forced running stress, by themselves or in combination, have little effect on acute pyridostigmine toxicity in rats.

Animals↗

Interactive effects of paraoxon and pyridostigmine on blood-brain barrier integrity and cholinergic toxicity.

The effect of the organophosphorous insecticide paraoxon on the integrity of the blood-brain barrier (BBB) and permeability of pyridostigmine (PYR), a peripheral inhibitor of cholinesterase activity, was examined in Long Evans rats. The integrity of the BBB was examined by measuring the number of capillaries leaking horseradish peroxidase, which was injected into the heart. Treatment with paraoxon at 100 microg/kg, intramuscularly, resulted in a 3- to 4-fold increase in the number of leaky capillaries in young rats (25 to 30 days old) but not in older rats (90 days old). Interestingly, young rats treated with PYR (30 mg/kg, po) 50 min before treatment with paraoxon showed an inhibited effect of paraoxon on the BBB. Furthermore, no increase in the degree of inhibition of acetylcholinesterase activity was observed in young rats treated with PYR before paraoxon compared with young rats treated with paraoxon alone. Cholinergic toxicity, as assessed by changes in behavior, was not observed in young rats treated with paraoxon alone; but, slight signs of cholinergic toxicity were observed in rats treated with PYR. Young rats treated with both PYR and paraoxon did not exhibit more extensive signs of toxicity than rats treated with paraoxon alone or PYR alone. The results indicate that treatment with paraoxon can compromise BBB permeability at dosages that do not induce cholinergic toxicity, but only in young rats. Also, PYR pre-exposure appears to protect the BBB from the paraoxon-induced alterations.

Age Factors↗

Detection and quantification of the organophosphate insecticide paraoxon by competitive inhibition enzyme immunoassay.

A competitive inhibition enzyme immunoassay (EIA) was developed to detect and quantify levels of the organophosphate insecticide paraoxon in body fluids. Protein-conjugated paraoxon served as an immunogen for the production of rabbit heteroantiserum, from which affinity purified IgG anti-paraoxon antibodies were isolated using a heterologous protein-paraoxon-conjugated immunoabsorbent. In the competitive inhibition EIA a standard curve was generated for the inhibition of binding of anti-paraoxon IgG to a solid-phase bound heterologous protein-paraoxon conjugate by various concentrations of free paraoxon. Binding was proportionate to the color change of an appropriate substrate generated by an enzyme-conjugated second antibody specific for the rabbit IgG anti-paraoxon. The assay detected paraoxon levels as low as 10(-10)M (28 pg/ml) in buffer, and serum paraoxon levels as low as 10(-9)M. In addition to its sensitivity, this technique is ideally suited to the simultaneous processing of large numbers of samples in less than 2 hr. The competitive inhibition EIA is cost effective and should facilitate environmental surveillance using sentinel animals, expand laboratory toxicology studies, and improve clinical detection capabilities.

Animals↗

Peptidolipid as binding site of acetylcholinesterase: molecular recognition of paraoxon in Langmuir films.

Peptidolipid C18H35O (stearoyl)-Phe-Trp-Ser-His-Glu (peptidolipid A) was synthesized and spread at the air-water interface to study the interaction with an organophosphorus compound. Paraoxon, sodium dihydrogen phosphate, or 4-nitrophenyl phosphate disodium was added to the subphase, but only paraoxon changed the surface pressure-area (pi-A) isotherm of peptidolipid A. This indicated a specific interaction between paraoxon and peptidolipid A. To clarify which amino acid residue of peptidolipid A was responsible for the interaction, peptidolipid B, namely, C18H35O-Gly-His-Ser-Glu-Glu, was synthesized and studied as a Langmuir film. The difference between the pi-A isotherms of peptidolipid B in the absence and presence of paraoxon in the subphase was minimal; consequently, the presence of amino acids phenylalanine (Phe) and tryptophan (Trp) in peptidolipid A may explain the interaction between peptidolipid A and paraoxon. The compression-decompression cycles and kinetic studies of peptidolipid A showed that the Langmuir film was stable. The in situ optical properties of the peptidolipid A Langmuir film such as UV-vis and fluorescence spectroscopies were examined to elucidate the interaction between peptidolipid A and paraoxon. UV-vis absorption of peptidolipid A was investigated in the presence and absence of paraoxon in the subphase. The emission maximum of fluorescence of Trp in peptidolipid A was observed at 351 nm on pure water, and the band intensity decreased when the concentration of paraoxon increased in the subphase. This suggested that the Trp was involved in the molecular recognition process. Epifluorescence micrographs showed domains of peptidolipid A on the pure water subphase. In the presence of paraoxon in the subphase, the Langmuir film of peptidolipid A showed a homogeneity, which was another indication of the recognition between paraoxon and peptidolipid A.

Acetylcholinesterase↗

Differential effects of paraoxon on the M3 muscarinic receptor and its effector system in rat submaxillary gland cells.

The effects of the organophosphorus anticholinesterase paraoxon on the binding of radioactive ligands to the M3 subtype of the muscarinic receptor and receptor-coupled synthesis of second messengers in intact rat submaxillary gland (SMG) cells were investigated. The binding of [3H]quinuclidinyl benzilate ([3H]QNB) was most sensitive to atropine and the M3-specific antagonist 4-DAMP followed by pirenzepine and least sensitive to the cardioselective M2 antagonist AFDX116. This, and the binding characteristics of [3H]4-DAMP, confirmed that the muscarinic receptors in this preparation are of the M3 subtype. Activation of these muscarinic receptors by carbamylcholine (CBC) produced both stimulation of phosphoinositide (PI) hydrolysis and inhibition of cAMP synthesis, suggesting that this receptor subtype couples to both effector systems. Paraoxon (100 microM) reduced Bmax of [3H]4-DAMP binding from 27 +/- 4 to 13 +/- 3 fmol/mg protein with nonsignificant change in affinity, suggesting noncompetitive inhibition of binding by paraoxon. Like the agonist CBC, paraoxon inhibited the forskolin-induced cAMP formation in SMG cells with an EC50 of 200 nM, but paraoxon was greater than 500 fold more potent than CBC. However, while the inhibition by CBC was counteracted by 2 microM atropine, that by paraoxon was unaffected by up to 100 microM atropine. It suggested that this effect of paraoxon was not via binding to the muscarinic receptor. Paraoxon did not affect beta-adrenoreceptor function in the preparation, since it did not affect the 10 microM isoproterenol-induced cAMP synthesis, which was inhibited totally by 10 microM propranolol and partially by CBC. Paraoxon had a small but significant effect on CBC-stimulated PI metabolism in the SMG cells.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Animals↗