Understand the interaction modes and reactivity of trimedoxime toward MmAChE inhibited by nerve agents: theoretical and experimental Aspects

Abstract

The organophosphorus compounds (OP) are used as both chemical weapons and pesticides. However, these agents are very dangerous and toxic to humans, animals, and the environment. Thus, investigations with reactivators have been deeply developed in order to design new antidotes with better efficiency, as well as greater spectrum of action in the AChE reactivation process. With that in mind, in this work, we investigated the behavior of trimedoxime toward the Mus musculus Acetylcholinesterase (MmAChE) inhibited by a range of nerve agents, such as chemical weapons. From experimental essays, reactivation percentages were obtained for the reactivation of different AChE-OP complexes. On the other hand, theoretical calculations were performed to assess the differences of interaction modes and reactivity of trimedoxime within AChE active site. Comparing theoretical and experimental data, it is possible to notice that the oxime, in most case, showed better reactivation percentages at higher concentrations, with the best result for the reactivation of the AChE-VX adduct. From this work, it was revealed that the mechanistic process contributes most to the oxime efficiency than the interaction in the site. In this way, this study was important to better understand the reactivation process through trimedoxime, contributing to the proposal of novel antidotes.