Organophosphorus Pesticide as Nerve Agent: Inhibition and Reactivation of AChE: A Review

Abstract

In last five decades, organophosphorus compounds have become significant because of the widespread uses as pesticides abutting a clear threat to people from the potential use of chemical weapon as nerve agents in the cold wars and terrorist activities. Sarin, tabun, soman, cyclosarin belong to organophosphorus compounds called nerve agents due to their biological interaction as powerful inhibitor of enzyme acetylcholinesterase (AChE) and rendered its neurological function, the underlying mechanism is discussed. The identification and detection of such toxic nerve agents using spectrometry, sensors including enzymatic assays is the prime target of recent researchers. Typically some antidotes like oxime derivatives are most common and are the light of hope for nerve gas exposure. The modern techniques applied for the discovery of new antidote and their way of action by reactivating the blocked nerve enzyme and the hidden mechanism of reactivation of AchE are explained.