Hydrolysis of chiral organophosphorus compounds by phosphotriesterases and mammalian paraoxonase-1

Some organophosphorus compounds (OPs), which are used in the manufacturing of insecticides and nerve agents, are racemic mixtures with at least one chiral center with a phosphorus atom. Acute exposure of humans to these mixtures induces the covalent modification of acetylcholinesterase (AChE) and neuropathy target esterase (NTE) and causes a cholinergic syndrome or organophosphate-induced delayed polyneuropathy syndrome (OPIDP). These...