Crystal structures of human carboxylesterase 1 in covalent complexes with the chemical warfare agents soman and tabun.

ABSTRACT: The organophosphorus nerve agents sarin, soman, tabun, and VX exert their toxic effects by inhibiting the action of human acetylcholinesterase, a member of the serine hydrolase superfamily of enzymes. The current treatments for nerve agent exposure must be administered quickly to be effective, and they often do not eliminate long-term toxic side effects associated with organophosphate poisoning. Thus, there is significant need for effective prophylactic methods to protect at-risk personnel from nerve agent exposure, and protein-based approaches have emerged as promising candidates. We present the 2.7 A resolution crystal structures of the serine hydrolase human carboxylesterase 1 (hCE1), a broad-spectrum drug metabolism enzyme, in covalent acyl-enzyme intermediate complexes with the chemic

SUBMITTER: Fleming CD 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC2517171 | biostudies-literature | 2007 May

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature