Biosensor for direct determination of fenitrothion and EPN using recombinant Pseudomonas putida JS444 with surface-expressed organophosphorous hydrolase. 2. Modified carbon paste electrode.

A whole cell-based amperometric biosensor for highly selective, sensitive, rapid, and cost-effective determination of the organophosphate pesticides fenitrothion and ethyl p-nitrophenol thio-benzene phosphonate (EPN) is discussed. The biosensor comprised genetically engineered p-nitrophenol (PNP)-degrading bacteria Pseudomonas putida JS444 anchoring and displaying organophosphorous hydrolase (OPH) on its cell surface as biological sensing element and carbon paste electrode as the amperometric transducer. Surface-expressed OPH catalyzed the hydrolysis of organophosphorous pesticides such as fenitrothion and EPN to release PNP and 3-methyl-4- nitrophenol, respectively, which were subsequently degraded by the enzymatic machinery of P. putida JS444 through electrochemically active intermediates to the TCA cycle. The electro-oxidization current of the intermediates was measured and correlated to the concentration of organophosphates. Operating at optimum conditions, 0.086 mg dry wt of cell operating at 600 mV of applied potential (vs Ag/AgCl reference) in 50 mM citrate phosphate buffer, pH 7.5, with 50 muM CoCl2 at room temperature, the biosensor measured as low as 1.4 ppb of fenitrothion and 1.6 ppb of EPN. There was no interference from phenolic compounds, carbamate pesticides, triazine herbicides, or organophosphate pesticides without nitrophenyl substituent. The service life of the biosensor and the applicability to lake water were also demonstrated.

Characterization of a novel organophosphorus hydrolase from Nocardiodes simplex NRRL B-24074.

We characterized a novel organophosphorus hydrolase (OPH) activity expressed by Nocardiodes simplex NRRL B-24074, a member of a coumaphos-degrading microbial consortium from cattle dip waste. Like the previously characterized OPH from Nocardia sp. strain B- (NRRL B- 16944), OPH activity in N. simplex is located in the cytoplasm and is expressed constitutively. The purified enzyme is monomeric, has a native molecular size of 45,000 Da and has a specific activity toward ethyl parathion of 33 micromole/min x mg protein. Km constants for the enzyme with the structurally related organophosphate pesticides ethyl parathion and EPN were 100 microM and 345 microM, respectively. Although OPH activity in extracts did not require the addition of divalent cations, the purified enzyme lost activity during dialysis against phosphate buffer and this activity could be restored after incubation in buffer containing either CoSO4 or CuSO4. Our results suggest that OPH activity in N. simplex is distinct from other known OPHs and that the responsible gene is unrelated to known genes.

Acute toxicity, accumulation and excretion of organophosphorous insecticides and their oxidation products in killifish.

Acute toxicity, accumulation and excretion of four organophosphorous insecticides (diazinon, malathion, fenitrothion and EPN) and their oxidation products (diazinon oxon, malaoxon, fenitrothion oxon and EPN oxon) were studied for killifish (Oryzias latipes). The 48-hr LC50 was 4.4 mg l-1 for diazinon, 1.8 mg l-1 for malathion, 3.5 mg l-1 for fenitrothion, 0.58 mg l-1 for EPN, 0.22 mg l-1 for diazinon oxon, 0.28 mg l-1 for malaoxon, 6.8 mg l-1 for fenitrothion oxon, and 0.16 mg l-1 for EPN oxon. The bioconcentration factors (BCF) of diazinon oxon 0.5, malaoxon 1.1, fenitrothion oxon 2.3 and EPN oxon 11 in the whole body of the fish were much lower than those of diazinon 49, malathion 11, fenitrothion 122 and EPN 1124. As reference data, partition coefficients between n-octanol and water (Pow) were measured for these chemicals. The BCF values of each pesticide and its oxidation product were consistent with the Pow values. The excretion rate constants (k) from the whole body of the fish were 0.12 hr-1 for diazinon, 0.27 hr-1 for malathion, 0.11 hr-1 for fenitrothion, 0.02 hr-1 for EPN, 0.30 hr-1 for fenitrothion oxon and 0.59 hr-1 for EPN oxon. The rates of diazinon oxon and malaoxon could not be measured, but were presumed to be as rapid as or more rapid than those of fenitrothion oxon and EPN oxon. The results suggest that the contamination of fish and other aquatic organisms by the oxidation products in the environment is very low.

Mechanisms of joint neurotoxicity of n-hexane, methyl isobutyl ketone and O-ethyl O-4-nitrophenyl phenylphosphonothioate in hens.

The joint neurotoxic action of simultaneous exposure to vapors of n-hexane and methyl iso-butyl ketone (MiBK) and dermally applied O-ethyl O-nitrophenyl phenylphosphonothioate (EPN) was studied in groups of five adult hens. Four groups of hens were concurrently exposed to a dermal 2.5 mg/kg of EPN, 1000 ppm of n-hexane and 100, 250, 500 or 1000 ppm of MiBK. Two groups were each exposed to binary mixtures of a dermal dose of 2.5 mg/kg of EPN and 250 ppm of MiBK or 1000 ppm of n-hexane. Another three groups of hens were exposed to either 250 ppm of MiBK, 1000 ppm of n-hexane or a dermal dose of 2.5 mg/kg of EPN. A Group of hens was kept untreated. All hens were terminated after 30 days of treatment. Hens exposed to MiBK or n-hexane vapor did not exhibit any toxicity signs. In contrast, hens treated with EPN alone or in combination with n-hexane and/or MiBK developed acute cholinergic and delayed neurotoxicity signs. Hen brain acetylcholinesterase and neurotoxic esterase activities were inhibited in hens treated concurrently with EPN, n-hexane and MiBK. MiBK alone or in combination with EPN and n-hexane induced liver microsomal cytochrome P-450 content and phenobarbital-inducible cytochrome P-450 enzyme activities. Microsomes from hens treated with EPN, n-hexane, MiBK or mixtures of EPN, n-hexane and MiBK significantly enhanced the biotransformation of EPN to the more neurotoxic oxidation metabolite O-ethyl O-4-nitrophenyl phenylphosphonate.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Activation and degradation of the phosphorothionate insecticides parathion and EPN by rat brain.

Cytochrome P-450-dependent monooxygenases are known to activate phosphorothionate insecticides to their oxon (phosphate) analogs by oxidative desulfuration. These activations produced potent anticholinesterases, decreasing the I50 values to rat brain acetylcholinesterase almost 1000-fold (from the 10(-5) M range to the 10(-8) M range). Since the usual cause of death in mammals from organophosphorus insecticide poisoning is respiratory failure resulting, in part, from a failure of the respiratory control center of the brain, we investigated the ability of rat brain to activate and subsequently degrade two phosphorothionate insecticides, parathion (diethyl 4-nitrophenyl phosphorothioate) and EPN (ethyl 4-nitrophenyl phenylphosphonothioate). Microsomes from specific regions (cerebral cortex, corpus striatum, cerebellum, and medulla/pons) of the brains of male and female rats and from liver were incubated with the phosphorothionate and an NADPH-generating system. Oxon production was quantified indirectly by the amount of inhibition resulting in an exogenous source of acetylcholinesterase added to the incubation mixture as an oxon trap. The microsomal activation specific activity was low for brain when compared to liver [0.23 to 0.44 and 5.1 to 12.0 nmol.min-1.(g tissue)-1 respectively]. The mitochondrial fraction of the brain possessed an activation activity for parathion similar to that of microsomes [about 0.35 nmol.min-1.(g tissue)-1 for each fraction], but mitochondrial activity was slightly greater than microsomal activity for EPN activation [0.53 to 0.58 and 0.23 to 0.47 nmole.min-1.(g tissue)-1]. Whole homogenates were tested for their ability to degrade paraoxon and EPN-oxon (ethyl 4-nitrophenyl phenylphosphonate), quantitated by 4-nitrophenol production. Specific activity for oxon degradation in liver was greater than that in brain [31 to 74 and 1.1 to 10.7 nmole.min-1.(g tissue)-1 respectively]. Overall, the brain and liver had about 1.5- to 12-fold higher specific activities for degradation than activation depending on the compound used. These findings demonstrate that the brain possesses both phosphorothionate activation and oxon degradation abilities, both of which may be significant during exposures to organophosphorus insecticides.

The joint neurotoxic action of inhaled methyl butyl ketone vapor and dermally applied O-ethyl O-4-nitrophenyl phenylphosphonothioate in hens: potentiating effect.

The neurotoxic action of inhaled technical grade methyl butyl ketone and dermally applied (O-ethyl O-4-nitrophenyl phenylphosphonothioate (EPN) was studied. Three groups of five hens each were treated 5 days/week for 90 days with a dermal dose of 1.0 mg/kg of EPN (85%) on the unprotected back of the neck. These groups were exposed simultaneously to 10, 50, or 100 ppm of technical methyl butyl ketone (MBK; methyl n-butyl ketone:methyl isobutyl ketone, 7:3) in inhalation chambers. A fourth group was treated only with the dose of EPN and a fifth group with only 100 ppm MBK. The control consisted of a group of five hens treated with a dose of 0.1 ml acetone. Treatment was followed by a 30-day observation period. Simultaneous exposure to EPN and MBK greatly enhanced the neurotoxicity produced when compared to the neurotoxicity produced by either chemical when applied alone. Continued exposure to EPN and MBK resulted in earlier onset and more severe signs of neurotoxicity than exposure to either individual compound. The severity and characteristics of histopathologic lesions in hens given the same daily dermal dose of EPN in combination with inhaled MBK depended on the MBK concentration. Histopathologic changes were more severe and prevalent in the 100 ppm MBK:1 mg/kg EPN group than in the others. In this group, Wallerian-type degeneration was seen along with paranodal axonal swellings. The morphology and distribution of these lesions were characteristic of those induced by MBK. In the 50 ppm MBK:1 mg/kg EPN group axonal swelling was evident but not clearly identifiable as paranodal. Hens treated with 10 ppm MBK:1 mg/kg EPN had minimal lesions with low incidence of axonal swellings. These were not as large as those seen in MBK neurotoxicity, but instead resembled the histopathologic lesions caused by EPN. The results indicate that the combined treatment gave a value for neurotoxicity coefficient which was two times the additive neurotoxic effect of each treatment alone. Pretreatment with three daily ip doses of 5 mmol/kg technical grade MBK or methyl n-butyl ketone (MnBK), equally increased chicken hepatic microsomal cytochrome P-450 content. Also, hepatic microsomes from MBK-treated hens metabolized [14C]EPN in vitro to [14C]EPN oxon to a much greater extent than those from control hens. These results suggest that MBK potentiates the neurotoxic effect of EPN, at least in part, by increasing the metabolic activation of EPN to the more neurotoxic metabolite EPN oxon.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)

NAD-coupled enzymatic oxidation of O-ethyl O-p-nitrophenyl phenylphosphonothioate (EPN) to its oxygen analog with liver microsomes of rats.

O-Ethyl O-p-nitrophenyl phenylphosphonothioate (EPN)-induced inhibition of rat liver microsomal carboxylesterase (CEase) and formation of O-ethyl O-p-nitrophenyl phenylphosphonate (EPNoxon), an oxygen analog of EPN, were enhanced remarkably by addition of NAD in vitro. This potentiation of the anti-CEase action of EPN by NAD was significantly inhibited by addition of SKF 525-A or potassium thiocyanate (KSCN); and a simultaneous decrease in cytochrome P-450 contents were also observed. Addition of N-ethylmaleimide (NEM) at various concentrations inhibited potentiation of the anti-CEase action of EPN by NAD in parallel with inhibition of liver microsomal dehydrogenase activities. In conclusion, NAD was enzymatically reduced to NADH, a cofactor of microsomal dehydrogenase(s), and then formation of EPNoxon through microsomal cytochrome P-450-coupled monooxygenase was accelerated. Consequently, inhibition of CEase by EPN was potentiated.

Enhancement of the binding of O-ethyl O-p-nitrophenyl phenylphosphonate (EPNoxon) to microsomal carboxylesterase by NAD in vitro.

Inhibition of rat liver microsomal carboxylesterase (CEase) by O-ethyl O-p-nitrophenyl phenylphosphonothioate (EPN) and binding of EPN oxygen analog to microsomal CEase were enhanced by addition of NAD or NADP. This was more prominent in addition of NAD than NADP. No potentiation of anti-CEase action of EPN by NAD was seen when pure esterase (E.C. 3.1.1.1) instead of liver microsomes was used as an enzyme source. This effect of NAD in microsomal CEase was significantly decreased when N-ethylmaleimide or p-chloromercuribenzoic acid was added. From these findings, it is strongly suggested that NAD-mediated potentiation of the anti-CEase action of EPN might be attributed to the increase in formation of NADH from NAD by microsomal dehydrogenase(s) containing a sulfhydryl group, leading to a subsequent increase in formation of the EPN oxygen analog from EPN, and in turn, CEase inhibition was enhanced.

A study of liver microsomal enzymes in rats following propoxur (Baygon) administration.

Groups of rats were given either propoxur, were left as untreated controls, or were given phenobarbital, DDT, chlordane or toxaphene which are known to induce liver microsomal detoxification enzymes. Microsomal enzyme activity was measured by testing the ability of liver homogenates to degrade EPN (O-ethyl O-(4-nitrophenyl) phenylphosphonothioate) to p-nitrophenol. The activity of aminopyrine-N-demethylase, cytochrome P-450 and p-nitroanisole-O-demethylase in liver homogenates of rats receiving propoxur was measured. Liver microsomal detoxification enzymes were not induced by propoxur exposure.

Distribution and metabolism of O-ethyl O-4-nitrophenyl phenylphosphonothioate after a single oral dose in one-week old chicks.

The toxicokinetics and metabolism of a single 1 mg (2.7 muCi/kg) oral dose of uniformly phenyl-labeled [14C]EPN (O-ethyl O-4-nitrophenyl [14C]phenylphosphonothioate) have been studied in 1-week old chicks. One control and three treated chicks were killed at each of the following time intervals: 0.5, 2, 4, 8, and 12 days. Radioactivity was rapidly absorbed from the gastrointestinal tract and distributed in all tissues. 14C in tissues reached a peak of 16.9% of the dose after 0.5 day and decreased to 0.6% at 4 days. The tissues of the gastrointestinal tract had the highest concentration of radioactivity, followed by bile and liver. Among nervous tissues, concentration of the 14C was highest in the peripheral nerves. The spinal cord had the next highest concentration, while the brain had the least. After 4 days 91.3% of the 14C had been eliminated in the combined urinary-fecal excreta. By the end of the 12-day experiment this percentage reached 93.1%. No 14C was detected in the expired CO2. Following the oral administration of [14C]EPN, a monophasic body level curve was observed. The half-life for the elimination of 14C from chick body was 16 h, corresponding to a rate constant of 0.04 h -1. Most of the excreted 14C materials were identified as O-ethyl phenylphosphonic acid, phenylphosphonic acid, and O-ethyl phenylphosphonothioic acid.

The absorption, distribution, excretion, and metabolism of a single oral dose of O-ethyl O-4-nitrophenyl phenylphosphonothioate in hens.

The disposition and metabolism of a single oral 10 mg/kg (LD50) of uniformly phenyl-labeled [14C]EPN (O-ethyl O-4-nitrophenyl [14C]phenylphosphonothioate) were studied in adult hens. The birds were protected from acute toxicity with atropine sulfate. Three treated hens were killed at each time interval (days): 0.5, 2, 4, 8, 12. Radioactivity was adsorbed from the gastrointestinal tract and distributed in all tissues. Most of the dose was excreted in the combined urinary-fecal excreta (74%). Only traces of the radioactivity (0.2%) were detected in expired CO2. Most of the excreted radioactive materials were identified as phenylphosphonic acid (PPA), O-ethyl phenylphosphonic acid (EPPA), and O-ethyl phenylphosphonothioc acid (EPPTA). Radioactivity in tissues reached a peak of 11.8% in 12 days. The highest concentration of radioactivity was present in the liver followed by bile, kidney, adipose tissue, and muscle. EPN was the major compound identified in brain, spinal cord, sciatic nerve, kidney, and plasma. Most of the radioactivity in the liver was identified as EPPA followed by EPPTA and PPA. Kinetic studies showed that EPN disappeared exponentially from tissues. The half-life of the elimination of EPN from plasma was 16.5 days corresponding to a constant rate value of 0.04 day-1. Relative residence (RR) of EPN relative to plasma was shortest in liver and longest in adipose tissue followed by sciatic nerve and spinal cord.

Disposition, elimination and metabolism of O-ethyl O-4-nitrophenyl phenylphosphonothioate after subchronic dermal application in male cats.

The metabolism, distribution, and excretion of the insecticide O-ethyl O-4-nitrophenyl phenylphosphonothioate (EPN) were studied in the male cat. Each cat was given a daily dermal dose of 0.5 mg/kg [14C]EPN for 10 consecutive days. Fifteen days after the last dose, the cats had excreted 62% of the cumulative dose in the urine and 10% in the feces. No 14CO2 was detected in the expired air. O-Ethyl phenylphosphonic acid (EPPA) was identified as the major urinary and fecal metabolite. Phenylphosphonic acid (PPA) was the second highest metabolite. Only traces of the intact EPN were recovered in the urine and feces. The disposition studies performed 1, 5, 10 and 15 days after the administration of the last dose showed that EPN was the major compound identified in the brain, spinal cord, sciatic nerve, adipose tissue, plasma and kidney. Most of the radioactivity in the liver was identified as EPPA followed by PPA. The time course of plasma EPN, determined after the 10th daily dose was biphasic. The slower process had a half-life of 17.0 days. After tissue distribution was completed, tissue elimination was adequately represented as a single first-order process.

Physiological disposition and metabolism of O-ethyl-O-4-nitrophenyl phenylphosphonothioate in male cats following a single dermal administration.

The pharmacokinetics and metabolism of a single dermal 20.0 mg/kg of uniformly phenyl-labeled [14C]EPN (O-ethyl O-4-nitrophenyl [14C]phenylphosphonothioate) were investigated in adult male cats. Three treated cats were killed at each time interval: 0.5, 2, 4, 8, and 12. Radioactivity disappeared exponentially from administration site at a rate constant of 0.46 day-1, corresponding to a half-life of 1.5 days. Most of the absorbed radioactivity was excreted in the urine (29.9%). Only 3.2% of the 14C was recovered in the feces. No radioactivity was detected in expired CO2. Only traces of EPN were detected in the urine and feces. Most of the excreted 14C materials were identified as O-ethyl phenylphosphonothioic acid (EPPTA), O-ethyl phenylphosphonic acid (EPPA), and phenylphosphonic acid (PPA). The disposition studies showed that EPN was the major compound identified 0.5 day after administration in the brain, spinal cord, sciatic nerve, adipose tissue, plasma, muscle, liver, and kidney. Most of the radioactivity in the liver and kidney was identified after 4 days as EPPTA, EPPA, and PPA. Kinetic and distribution studies showed that EPN was eliminated from the tissues and plasma according to exponential kinetics. The half-life of the elimination of EPN from plasma was 9.1 days corresponding to a constant rate value of 0.076 day-1. Relative residence (RR) of EPN relative to plasma was longest in the sciatic nerve and shortest in the kidney.

Toxicokinetics and metabolism of delayed neurotoxic organophosphorus esters.

The data presented here indicate that rodents metabolize and excrete delayed neurotoxic organophosphorus esters with great efficiency. By contrast, the adult chicken seems to have difficulty carrying out these processes. The cat is intermediate between rodents and chickens. Although further studies are needed, these results suggest that the hen model may exaggerate the effect of neurotoxic organophosphorus esters. Extrapolation of findings from the chicken may thus overestimate the risk or hazard of organophosphorus esters to humans. This may explain why no human case of EPN-induced delayed neurotoxicity has been reported despite the fact that it has been in use for over a quarter of a century. Other neurotoxicity data from our laboratory seem to support the suggestion that the cat may be a better model to extrapolate neurotoxicity results to humans. The data presented in this review suggest that the pharmacokinetics and metabolism of organophosphorus esters may play a prominent role in species and age sensitivities for OPIDN. Animals that are sensitive to delayed neurotoxicity have a higher accumulation rate, coupled with slower elimination of the neurotoxic agent. These studies, however, do not rule out the possibility that the target tissue of organophosphorus delayed neurotoxicity itself is species or age specific.

S-(O-ethyl phenylphosphonothionyl) glutathione; evidence for its formation in the in vitro metabolism of EPN in houseflies.

Double labelling experiments using [phenyl-14C], [2,6-p-nitro-phenyl-14C]- or, nonradioactive EPN with [35S]-, [glycine-3H]- or nonradioactive glutathione in the presence of the 100,000g supernatant fraction from the Rutgers strain of houseflies resulted in the formation of a radiolabelled conjugate. Hydrolysis of the [phenyl-14C] conjugate formed the phenyl-[14C]-phosphonothioic acid. The proposed structure of the conjugate is S-(O-ethyl phenylphosphonothionyl) glutathione. The conjugate is formed with racemic, (+), or (-) EPN. Structure activity studies indicate the following: a decrease in the electron withdrawing properties of the substituents on the O-p-nitrophenyl moiety results in a decrease in the formation of the conjugates; substituting the phenylphosphonothioic moiety with the ethyl-phosphonothioate, inhibits the formation of the corresponding conjugate' substituting the O-ethyl group with other alkyl groups did not effect the formation of the corresponding conjugate.

Induction of xenobiotic metabolism in rat liver by chlorinated biphenyl ether isomers.

Chlorinated diphenyl ether isomers were administered to rats at doses of 10 mumols/kg/day po for 3 days. Decachlorodiphenyl ether caused increases in EPN detoxification, NADPH cytochrome c reductase and cytochrome P-450 but did not alter aryl hydrocarbon hydroxylase (AHH). It caused a shift in P450 absorption to 448 nm. 2,4,5,2',4'-Pentachlorodiphenyl ether increased EPN detoxification and cytochrome P-450. 2,4,5,3',4'-Pentachlorodiphenyl ether increased AHH and cytochrome P-450 and caused a shift in the absorption maximum to 448 nm. 3,4,2',4'-Tetrachlorodiphenyl ether induced AHH. 2,4'-Dichlorodiphenyl ether, 4,4'-dichlorodiphenyl ether, 2,4,2'-trichlorodiphenyl ether, 2,4,4'-trichlorodiphenyl ether, 3,4,2'-trichlorodiphenyl ether and 3,4,2',4'-tetrachlorodiphenyl ether did not alter any of these parameters. The position and degree of chlorination are important in determining the extent of induction and pathways induced.

Hepatic microsomal enzyme induction by trifluoromethyl compounds and some halogenated and nonhalogenated analogs.

Trifluoromethyl derivatives of toluene, phenothiazine, benzimidazole and DDT were administered ip to male rats for 5 days and induction of hepatic microsomal enzymes catalyzing the metabolism of EPN, p-nitroanisole and aminopyrine measured. The addition of a trifluoromethyl substituent to toluene, phenothiazine and benzimidazole increased the inducing capacity of the parent molecule on p-nitroanisole metabolism. Dihalogenation of benzene with trifluoromethyl groups, regardless of position, resulted in induction of p-nitroanisole metabolism whereas halogenation of benzene with trichloromethyl groups did not. For these compounds, the size and electron-inducing capacity of the halogenated substituent may be relative to microsomal enzyme induction.