SYNOPSIS
We present here a comprehensive in vitro, ex vivo and in vivo study on hydrolytic detoxification of nerve agent and pesticide organophosphates (OPs) catalyzed by purified human butyrylcholinesterase (hBChE) in combination with novel non-pyridinium oxime reactivators. We identified 2-trimethylammonio-6-hydroxybenzaldehyde oxime (TAB2OH) as an efficient reactivator of OP-hBChE conjugates formed by the nerve agents, VX and cyclosarin, and the pesticide, paraoxon. It was also functional in reactivation of sarin and tabun inhibited hBChE. A three to five-fold enhancement of in vitro reactivation of VX, cyclosarin and paraoxon inhibited hBChE was observed, when compared to the commonly used N-methylpyridinium aldoxime reactivator, 2PAM. Kinetic analysis showed the enhancement resulted from improved molecular recognition of corresponding OP-hBChE conjugates by TAB2OH. The unique features of TAB2OH stem from an exocyclic quaternary nitrogen and a hydroxyl, both ortho to an oxime group on a benzene ring. pH dependences reveal participation of the hydroxyl (pKa=7.6) forming an additional ionizing nucleophile to potentiate the oxime (pKa=10) at physiological pH. The TAB2OH protective indices in therapy of sarin and paraoxon exposed mice were enhanced by 30% – 60% when they were treated with a combination of TAB2OH and sub-stoichiometric hBChE. These results establish that oxime-assisted catalysis is feasible for OP bioscavenging.