Acetylcholinesterase (AChE) that has been covalently inhibited by organophosphate compounds (OPCs), such as nerve agents and pesticides, has traditionally been reactivated by using nucleophilic oximes. There is, however, a clearly recognized need for new classes of compounds with the ability to reactivate inhibited AChE with improved in vivo efficacy. Here we describe our discovery of new functional groups-Mannich phenols and general bases-that are capable of reactivating OPC-inhibited AChE more efficiently than standard oximes and we describe the cooperative mechanism by which these functionalities are delivered to the active site. These discoveries, supported by preliminary in vivo results and crystallographic data, significantly broaden the available approaches for reactivation of AChE.
Representative scheme of ACHE structure and an image from PDBsum server
Databases
PDB-Sum
5HCU Previously Class, Architecture, Topology and Homologous superfamily - PDB-Sum server
FSSP
5HCUFold classification based on Structure-Structure alignment of Proteins - FSSP server
