The delayed neurotoxic effect of some organophosphorus compounds. Identification of the phosphorylation site as an esterase.

1. Organophosphorus compounds that produce a delayed neurotoxic effect in hens phosphorylate a specific site in the brain soon after administration. 2. Phosphorylation of the specific site by di-isopropyl [(32)P]phosphorofluoridate in vitro is blocked by the prior addition of phenyl phenylacetate. 3. A small proportion of the total activity of hen brain hydrolysing phenyl phenylacetate in vitro was shown to be due to an enzyme different from two others previously described. 4. This enzyme is only slightly inhibited in vitro by concentrations of tetraethyl pyrophosphate and paraoxon (diethyl 4-nitrophenyl phosphate) up to 64mum and is completely inhibited by 6mum-di-isopropyl phosphorofluoridate and 128mum-mipafox. 5. It is also inhibited in vivo by effective doses of neurotoxic organophosphorus compounds but not by high doses of non-neurotoxic analogues. 6. It is deduced that the active site of this enzyme is the phosphorylation site associated with the genesis of delayed neurotoxicity.