Brain cholinesterases. Differentiation of target enzymes for toxic organophosphorus compounds.

Cholinesterases in hen brain were characterized with respect to inhibition kinetics and substrate specificity. Three organophosphorus inhibitors were used: diethyl p-nitrophenyl phosphate (Paraoxon, E 600), di-isopropylphosphorofluoridate (DFP), and N,N'-di-isopropylphosphorodiamidic fluoride (Mipafox). The kinetics of irreversible cholinesterase inhibition were studied using two substrates, acetylthiocholine and butyrylthiocholine. The inhibition curves were analysed by the method of iterative elimination of exponential functions. Final classification of the different enzymes was done by combining two inhibitors in sequential inhibition expts. Six cholinesterases were shown to hydrolyse choline esters in hen brain, one was identified as acetylcholinesterase (EC 3.1.1.7) and one as cholinesterase (EC 3.1.1.8). Four enzymes can be classified as intermediate type cholinesterases according to their substrate specificity and to their inhibition constants. The possible role of different brain cholinesterases for the development of atypical symptoms following organophosphate intoxication is discussed.

Cholinesterases of heart muscle. Characterization of multiple enzymes using kinetics of irreversible organophosphorus inhibition.

Cholinesterases of porcine left ventricular heart muscle were characterized with respect to substrate specificity and inhibition kinetics with organophosphorus inhibitors N,N'-di-isopropyl-phosphorodiamidic fluoride (Mipafox), di-isopropylphosphorofluoridate (DFP), and diethyl p-nitro-phenyl phosphate (Paraoxon). Total myocardial choline ester hydrolysing activity (234 nmol/min/g wet wt with 1.5 mM acetylthiocholine, ASCh; 216 nmol/min/g with 30 mM butyrylthiocholine, BSCh) was irreversibly and covalently inhibited by a wide range of inhibitor concentrations and, using weighted least-squares non-linear curve fitting, residual activities as determined with four different substrates in each case were fitted to a sum of up to four exponential functions. Quality of curve fitting as assessed by the sum of squares reached its optimum on the basis of a three component model, thus, indicating the presence of three different enzymes taking part in choline ester hydrolysis. Final classification of heart muscle cholinesterases was obtained according to both substrate hydrolysis patterns with ASCh, BSCh, acetyl-beta-methylthiocholine and propionylthiocholine, and second-order rate constants for the reaction with organophosphorus inhibitors Mipafox, DFP, and Paraoxon. One choline ester-hydrolysing enzyme was identified as acetylcholinesterase (EC 3.1.1.7), and one as butyrylcholinesterase (EC 3.1.1.8). The third enzyme with relative resistance to organophosphorus inhibition was classified as atypical cholinesterase.

Neurotoxic esterase: gel filtration and isoelectric focusing of carboxylesterases solubilized from hen brain.

Carboxylesterase activity (EC 3.1.1.1) of hen brain including neurotoxic esterases NTEA and NTEB is solubilized from lyophilized lipid-extracted brain material by the use of n-octylglucoside. The solubilized enzymes are subjected to free isoelectric focusing, six carboxyl - esterase activity peaks are obtained. By gel filtration on Sephacryl S-300 neurotoxic esterases are separated from carboxylesterase isoenzymes V and X. The molecular weight of the neurotoxic esterases is estimated to be 1.8 X 10(6).

Neurotoxic esterase. Identification of two isoenzymes in hen brain.

Two phenyl valerate hydrolyzing carboxylesterases (EC 3.1.1.1) of hen brain were identified as neurotoxic esterases (NTEA and NTEB) by kinetic analysis of organophosphorus inhibition curves. The activities of both NTE isoenzymes with phenyl valerate (PV) as substrate and their inhibition rate constants were determined in six different animals. In-vivo-application of a single oral dose of 500 mg/kg triorthocresyl phosphate (TOCP) caused 86% inhibition of NTEA and 93% inhibition of NTEB within 24 h. Total NTE activity (NTEA plus NTEB) determined by kinetic analysis shows an excellent correlation (r = 0.989) to NTE activity simultaneously tested with a differential NTE assay. The excellent sensitivity (97%) and high specificity (79%) of the NTE differential test is demonstrated.

Indirect parasympathomimetic activity of metoclopramide: reversible inhibition of cholinesterases from human central nervous system and blood.

Inhibitory effects of the dopamine D2-receptor antagonistic benzamide compound metoclopramide (MCP) on acetylcholinesterase (AChE; EC 3.1.1.7) isoenzymes of both erythrocytes and human caudate nucleus and on human serum cholinesterase (ChE; EC 3.1.1.8) were studied in vitro using a spectrophotometric assay with acetylthiocholine (ASCh) as substrate. MCP concentrations in the assays varied from 0.30 microM to 0.15 mM. All isoenzymes studied were inhibited by metoclopramide in a concentration-dependent manner. MCP inhibition of AChE and ChE isoenzymes was not time-dependent and of the reversible type. Double reciprocal plots of the reaction velocity against varying ASCh concentrations revealed that, for AChE isoenzymes of erythrocytes and of the caudate nucleus, MCP reduced both maximal reaction velocity (Vmax) and substrate affinity (apparent Michaelis constant, KM, increased). Thus, MCP inhibition of both AChE isoenzymes was of mixed competitive/non-competitive type. MCP constants for reversible competitive (Ki) and non-competitive (Ki) inhibition could be determined for erythrocyte AChE (Ki = 10 microM; Ki = 70 microM) and caudate nucleus AChE (Ki = 9.3 microM; Ki = 82 microM). In contrast to MCP inhibition of AChE isoenzymes, the type of reversible MCP inhibition of human serum ChE depended on substrate concentration. If substrate concentration exceeded 0.2 mM, MCP inhibition was of mixed competitive/non-competitive type (Ki = 0.19 microM; Ki = 1.4 microM). MCP inhibition was of uncompetitive type, if substrate concentration was below 0.2 mM (Ki(u) = 1.0 microM). The mixed-type MCP inhibition of cholinesterase isoenzymes, because of its non-competitive component, can only partially be overcome by increased concentrations of the cholinergic transmitter acetylcholine (ACh). Since, with intravenous infusions, peak MCP plasma concentrations in humans reach 4 microM, MCP inhibition of ACh hydrolysis in vivo may contribute both to prokinetic and anti-emetic actions of the substance and to its extrapyramidal side effects.

Mipafox differential inhibition assay for heart muscle cholinesterases: substrate specificity and inhibition of three isoenzymes by physostigmine and quinidine.

1. A differential inhibition assay was developed for the quantitative determination of cholinesterase isoenzymes acetylcholinesterase (AChE; EC 3.1.1.7), cholinesterase (BChE; EC 3.1.1.8), and atypical cholinesterase in small samples of left ventricular porcine heart muscle. 2. The assay is based on kinetic analysis of irreversible cholinesterase inhibition by the organophosphorus compound N,N'-di-isopropylphosphorodiamidic fluoride (mipafox). With acetylthiocholine (ASCh) as substrate (1.25 mM), hydrolytic activities (A) of cholinesterase isoenzymes were determined after preincubation (60 min, 25 degrees C) of heart muscle samples with either saline (total activity, A tau), 7 microM mipafox (AM1), or 0.8 mM mipafox (AM2): (BChE) = A tau-AM1, (AChE) = AM1-AM2, (Atypical ChE) = AM2. 3. The mipafox differential inhibition assay was used to determine the substrate hydrolysis patterns of myocardial cholinesterases with ASCh, acetyl-beta-methylthiocholine (A beta MSCh), propionylthiocholine (PSCh), and butyrylthiocholine (BSCh). The substrate specificities of myocardial AChE and BChE resemble those of erythrocyte AChE and serum BChE, respectively. Michaelis constants KM with ASCh were determined to be 0.15 mM for AChE and 1.4 mM for BChE. 4. Atypical cholinesterase, in respect to both substrate specificity and inhibition kinetics, differs from cholinesterase activities of vertebrate tissue and, up to now, could be identified exclusively in heart muscle. The enzyme's Michaelis constant with ASCh was determined to be 4.0 mM. 5. The reversible inhibitory effects of physostigmine (eserine) and quinidine on heart muscle cholinesterases were investigated using the differential inhibition assay. With all three isoenzymes, the inhibition kinetics of both substances were strictly competitive. The physostigmine inhibition of AChE was most pronounced (Ki = 0.22 microM). Quinidine most potently inhibited myocardial BChE (Ki = 35 microM).

[Enzymatic detoxication of organophosphorus insecticides and nerve gases in primates]. / Die enzymatische Entigiftung von phosphororganischen Insektiziden und Nervengasen in Primaten.

The detoxication of organophosphorus compounds by phosphorylphosphatases was studied in primates. Taking into account the distribution of paraoxonase (EC 3.1.1.2) and DFPase (EC 3.8.2.1) in different tissues of the monkey (Macaca mulatta), the total detoxicating capacity for diethyl-p-nitrophenylphosphate (paraoxon, E 600) and diisopropylphosphorofluoridate (DFP) was determined. Acetylcholinesterase (AChE) (EC 3.1.1.7) of human brain was inhibited in vitro by paraoxon and DFP. Using the rate constants of AChE-inhibition and of AChE-synthesis those concentrations of organophosphorus inhibitors were calculated, which in vivo would reduce the steady-state AChE-activity to 20% of normal. This acute ineffective concentration is 7.6 X 10(-8) g/kg for DFP and 2.3 X 10(-8) g/kg for paraoxon. From substrate kinetics of the phosphorylphosphatases the time course of paraoxon and DFP detoxication in primates could be calculated. The time needed by phosphorylphosphatases to reduce a certain dose of an organophosphorus compound to the acute ineffective concentration is referred to as "effective detoxication time". The effective detoxication time (teff) was determined for different concentrations of paraoxon and DFP and was compared with the time needed by these organophosphate concentrations to inhibit AChE-activity to 12.5% of normal (t1/8). The significance of in vitro data for the evaluation of dose limits of organophosphate toxicity in vivo is discussed.