Investigation of structure-activity relationships in organophosphates-cholinesterase interaction using docking analysis

Abstract

It is known than the most potent homologues in various series of O,O-dialkylphosphates are the dibutyl or diamyl derivatives toward mammalian cholinesterases (ChEs) (both Acetyl- and Butyryl-ChEs), and the dimethyl or diethyl ones toward insect AChEs. To investigate the ChE interaction with organophosphorus inhibitors (OPIs) in more detail, we have performed in silico docking of the series of O,O-dialkylfluorophosphates into active center of different ChEs - both from mammals (human and mouse AChEs and horse BChE), and from insects (spring grain aphid AChE belonging to AChE-1 type, and housefly AChE belonging to AChE-2 type). According to the modeling results, one radical is directed to the anionic site W84, another to the acyl pocket. In addition to well-known residues 288 and 290 (Torpedo AChE sequence numbering), we showed an essential influence of residue 400 - a short alkyl residue in mammalian ChEs and phenylalanine in insect ChEs. Phenylalanine in this position creates sterical hindrance for proper orientation of the OPI molecule, which increases the distance between the catalytic serine gamma-oxygen and phosphorus, and decreases the angle of nucleophylic attack. This suggestion was supported by docking of dibutylfluorophosphate into the active center of AChEs with in silico mutations. Thus, we suggest both the angle of nucleophylic attack and the distance between the catalytic serine and phosphorus atom as measures of productivity of OPI binding.