Transcript Target agent: VX - University of California, Santa Barbara

Target agent: VX
CH3
O
CH3
O
H3C P S
CH3
O
H3C
N
N
O
CH3
acetylcholine
CH3
VX
CH3
CH3
Other chemical agents:
O
O
H3C P
F
CH3
CH3
O
H3C P
CH3
sarin
O
CH3
F
CH3
H3C P
S
O
O
NO2
O P
O
S
CO2Et
CO2Et
parathion
CN
tabun
Pesticides:
O P
N
CH3
soman
S
CH3
O
malathion
CH3
Target agent: VX
O
O
H3C P S
VX
CH3
CH3
O
CH3
N
H3C
CH3
CH3
Acetylcholinesterase
O
N
CH3
CH3
acetylcholine
Organophosphorus Compounds
Other chemical agents:
O
O
H3C P
F
CH3
CH3
O
H3C P
CH3
sarin
O
CH3
F
CH3
H3C P
S
O
O
NO2
O P
O
S
CO2Et
CO2Et
parathion
CN
tabun
Pesticides:
O P
N
CH3
soman
S
CH3
O
malathion
CH3
Peptides that recognize VX
Dr. Cyndi Wells, Dr. Ben Warner, Los Alamos Natl. Lab.
NH2-Ser-GG-Arg-GG-His-GG-His-Phe
NH2-Arg-GG-Ser-GG-His-GG-Ser-Phe
NH2-Trp-GG-His-GG-His-GG-Trp-Phe
NH2-Arg-GG-Tyr-GG-Arg-GG-Ser-Phe
NH2-Tyr-GG-Trp-GG-Tyr-GG-Trp-Phe
NH2-His-GG-His-GG-His-GG-Arg-Phe
O
OH
HO
NH2
Ser
HO
NH2
Arg
N
H
NH2
O
O
O
NH
O
N
HO
NH2
His
N
H
HO
HO
NH2
Tyr
OH
NH2
N
H
Trp
Selectivity and Recognition:
Peptide/metal receptors
Peptide: hydrophobic/hydrophilic, shape, size
Metal: functional group discrimination
O
O
S
OH
P
HO
OH
OH
P
H3C
OH
OH
P
HO
OH
phosphates from soil
methylphosphonic acid
from nerve agents
thiophosphates
from pesticides
differentiate by metal
differentiate by peptide
Degradation Products:
O
O
O
P
H3C
S
VX
N
+H2O
HS
OH
+
P
H3C
OH
methylphosphonic
acid
N
mercaptoamine
+
HO
ethanol