Inhibitor Report for: Acephate

The principles and procedures for the assessment of the safety/risk of chemical used by the relevant WHO and EPA expert groups are outlined. The assessment in terms of acceptable daily intakes (ADIs) and reference doses (RfDs) of 25 pesticides is listed. The pesticides assessed are acephate, alachlor, amitrole, azinphos-methyl, benomyl, biphenthrin, bromophos, chlordane, chlorthalonil, cyhalothrin, DDT, EPTC, ethion, folpet, fosetyl-al, glyphosate, isofenphos, methomyl, methyl mercury, paraquat, phosphamidon, systhane, terbutyn, tribultyltin oxide, and vinclozin. In addition, their critical effects, the no-observed-effect levels and the size of the safety/uncertainty factors used are also listed to illustrate the diversity of the toxic effects and the resulting assessments. Furthermore, the enormous amount of data reviewed and the complex scientific judgement involved are also indicated. Considering the various uncertainties existing, the ADIs and RfDs do not differ appreciably in most instances. However, marked differences exist between the ADIs and RfDs of DDT and chlordane. It is suggested that re-evaluation be done on these, and perhaps other, chemicals.

The toxicity of acephate to four species of aquatic insects, as well as the metabolism and cholinesterase-inhibiting properties of the chemical in the rat were studied. The results indicated that mayfly larvae were very sensitive to the toxic effects of acephate, whereas larvae of the stonefly, damselfly and mosquito were much less sensitive. In the rat, orally-administered acephate was rapidly absorbed from the intestines and severely inhibited the cholinesterases in the blood and brain. The enzymes began to recover after 24 hours, while the chemical was completely eliminated within three days. The amount of methamidophos observed in the liver was extremely low. The cholinesterase-inhibiting properties of acephate and methamidophos were compared in vitro to that of paraoxon, a known strong anticholinesterase. Enzymes from four vertebrates were used. In all cases, except one, acephate was found to be six orders of magnitude weaker than paraoxon, whereas methamidophos was three orders weaker. Trout brain cholinesterase was the exception; it was as sensitive to paraoxon as it was to methamidophos. Finally, four cholinesterases were inhibited with methamidophos, and their ability to reactivate spontaneously or to recover by induction with pyridine aldoxime methiodide (PAM) in vitro were determined. The results suggested that methamidophos-inhibited cholinesterases did not reactivate spontaneously; instead the enzymes remained inhibited either in a phosphorylated or an aged state. The significance of these results are discussed in relation to the use of acephate for forest insect pests.

Impurities such as O,S,S-trimethyl phosphorodithioate (TMPD) and the S-methyl isomer of malathion (isomalathion) strongly potentiated the mammalian toxicity of malathion. In contrast, impurities present in the phosphoramidothioate insecticide acephate had an antagonizing effect on its mammalian toxicity. The potentiation of the toxicity of malathion was attributed to inhibition of mammalian liver and serum carboxylesterase. O,O,S-Trimethyl phosphorothioate (TMP), another impurity present in technical malathion and in other organophosphorus insecticides, proved to be highly toxic. Rats given a single oral dose of TMP at a level as low as 20 mg/kg died over a period of three weeks, with death occurring with non-cholinergic signs of poisoning. TMPD also caused similar delayed death in rats. O,O,O-Trimethyl phosphorothioate (TMP=S), also another impurity in technical malathion and a structural isomer of TMP, was a potent antagonist to the delayed toxicity of TMP. Examination of a number of related trialkyl phosphorothioate and dialkyl alkylphosphonothioate esters revealed several of these compounds to be highly toxic to rats.

Egasyn-beta-glucuronidase complex is located at the luminal site of liver microsomal endoplasmic reticulum. When organophosphorus insecticides (OP) are incorporated into the liver microsomes, they become tightly bound to egasyn, a carboxylesterase isozyme, and subsequently, beta-glucuronidase (BG) is dissociated and released into blood. Consequently, the increase in plasma BG activity becomes a good biomarker of OP exposure. Thus, the single administration of EPN (O-ethyl O-p-nitrophenylphenylphosphonothioate), acephate and chlorpyrifos increased plasma BG activity in approximately 100-fold the control level in rats. The increase in plasma BG activity after OP exposure is a much more sensitive biomarker of acute OP exposure than acetylcholinesterase (AChE) inhibition.

Nasonovia ribisnigri, a main pest of salad crops, has developed resistance to various insecticides in southern France, including the carbamate pirimicarb and the cyclodiene endosulfan, two insecticides widely used to control this aphid. Here we have investigated the mechanisms of resistance to these two insecticides by studying cross-resistance, synergism, activity of detoxifying enzymes, and possible modifications of the target proteins. Resistance to pirimicarb was shown to be mainly due to a decreased sensitivity of the target acetylcholinesterase; this modification conferred also, resistance to propoxur but not to methomyl and the two tested organophosphates (acephate and paraoxon). Endosulfan resistance was associated with a moderate level of resistance to dieldrin, and resistance to both insecticides was due, in part, to increased detoxification by glutathione S-transferases (GST). The endosulfan resistant strain displayed the same amino acid at position 302 of the Rdl gene (GABA receptor) as susceptible aphids (e.g. Ala), indicating that the Ala to Ser (or to Gly) mutation observed among dieldrin resistant strains of other insect species was not present.

Acephate (AT) is an organophosphate (OP) insecticide. Due to their reputation for low environmental persistence, OP pesticides are often used indiscriminately resulting in detrimental exposure to humans and other nontarget species. Although the toxicity of OP compounds is primarily through blockade of neural transmission via inhibition of acetylcholinesterase, studies have revealed histopathological alterations in the renal proximal tubules, suggesting a role for additional mechanisms in renal toxicity. It is our hypothesis that Reactive Oxygen Species (ROS) may play a role in OP-induced renal tubular injury for the following reasoning. Renal tubular cells concentrate many nephrotoxic chemicals including OPs, and renal injury from many of these compounds has been shown to arise from excessive ROS production. Furthermore, it has been established that many phosphorothiolates, which are sulfur-containing OPs and constitute the class of OP compounds to which AT belongs, are S-oxidized to highly reactive intermediates within cells and tissues. Because of these considerations, we examined whether ROS play a role in OP-induced renal tubular epithelial cell (LLC-PK1) toxicity using AT as a prototype. AT produced a concentration- and time-dependent increase in cell damage in LLC-PK1 cells, measured by lactate dehydrogenase (LDH, % of total) leakage. The cytotoxicity (LDH) induced by 2500 ppm of AT over 72 h was significantly suppressed by antioxidants 2-methylaminochroman (2-MAC) and desferrioxamine (DFO). H2O2 levels were significantly elevated following exposure of LLC-PK1 cells to 2500 ppm of AT. Malondialdehyde (MDA) formation was also significantly increased in AT-exposed cells compared to the control cells, indicating the occurrence of enhanced lipid peroxidation. 2-MAC and DFO, in addition to providing cytoprotection, inhibited AT-induced MDA generation in a significant and concentration-dependent manner. Results from this study, which is the first to explore the toxic effects of AT on renal tubular cells, demonstrate that toxic action of AT on kidney cells is partly through an ROS-mediated mechanism. Based on these direct in vitro findings, we further hypothesize that oxidant stress may play a role in the pathogenesis of AT-induced acute tubular necrosis and renal dysfunction observed in cases of AT overdoses.

Methamidophos (Me) and its N-acetylated derivative, acephate (Ac), are water soluble insecticides that have similar insecticidal potency, but different mammalian toxicity. Me is a potent inhibitor, while Ac is a poor inhibitor of mammalian AChE (mAChE). At physiological pH, both insecticides exhibit similar accumulation in RBC, while Ac exhibits greater binding to plasma proteins than Me. These differential effects of Ac and Me are attributed to the differences in their physicochemical, molecular-orbital and electronic properties. Ac and Me are freely soluble in aqueous solution, moderately soluble in ethyl-acetate (EtAct) and insoluble in n-hexane. The solubility of these insecticides in aqueous solution and the partitioning of these insecticides from aqueous solution into EtAct are independent of the pH of the aqueous solution. At pH 8, Me did not react with o-phthalaldehyde (a NH2 selective dye), but gamma-amino-butyric acid (pKa 10) did. Thus, despite the presence of an amino group, Ac and Me do not exhibit pH dependent solubility in aqueous and in organic solvents. Ac has two O atoms with non-bonding electrons (P = O delta- and C = O delta-) where P = O and C = O point in opposite directions. Me has only one O atom with non-bonding electrons (P = O delta-). However, because of charge translocation, the C = O group of Ac exists as C = O- and the P-NH3+ group of Me exists as P = NH2+ at a pH lower than their pKa. The P-N bond of Me, but not of Ac, is hydrolyzed at pH 2. Thus, the presence of an electron rich domain stabilizes Ac's P-N bond. The CH3S-P bond of both insecticides is similarly hydrolyzed at pH 11. This indicates that the two compounds are considerably similar except that Ac has an additional electron rich domain. At physiological pH, therefore, the functional differences between these insecticides may be due to the differences in their electronic structure. We propose that, similar to a previous model for cationic inhibitors of AChE (13), the P = O delta- group of Me forms hydrogen bonds within the oxyanion-hole causing the leaving group (-SCH3) to orient towards the "gorge" opening. This orientation allows the P atom of Me to interact with Ser200, resulting in the phosphorylation of the enzyme. For acephate, either P = O or C = O, but not both, interact within the oxyanion-hole. This destabilizes the binding of Ac to the active center, resulting in reduced AChE phosphorylation.

The phosphotriesterase from Pseudomonas diminuta hydrolyzes a wide variety of organophosphate insecticides and acetylcholinesterase inhibitors. The rate of hydrolysis depends on the substrate and can range from 6000 s-1 for paraoxon to 0.03 s-1 for the slower substrates such as diethylphenylphosphate. Increases in the reactivity of phosphotriesterase toward the slower substrates were attempted by the placement of a potential proton donor group at the active site. Distances from active site residues in the wild type protein to a bound substrate analog were measured, and Trp131, Phe132, and Phe306 were found to be located within 5.0 A of the oxygen atom of the leaving group. Eleven mutants were created using site-directed mutagenesis and purified to homogeneity. Phe132 and Phe306 were replaced by tyrosine and/or histidine to generate all combinations of single and double mutants at these two sites. The single mutants W131K, F306K, and F306E were also constructed. Kinetic constants were measured for all of the mutants with the substrates paraoxon, diethylphenylphosphate, acephate, and diisopropylfluorophosphate. Vmax values for the mutant enzymes with the substrate paraoxon varied from near wild type values to a 4-order of magnitude decrease for the W131K mutant. There were significant increases in the Km for paraoxon for all mutants except F132H. Vmax values measured using diethylphenylphosphate decreased for all mutants except for F132H and F132Y, whereas Km values ranged from near wild type levels to increases of 25-fold. Vmax values for acephate hydrolysis ranged from near wild type values to a 10(3)-fold decrease for W131K. Km values for acephate ranged from near wild type to a 5-fold increase. Vmax values for the mutants tested with the substrate diisopropylfluorophosphate showed an increase in all cases except for the W131K, F306K, and F306E mutants. The Vmax value for the F132H/F306H mutant was increased to 3100 s-1. These studies demonstrated for the first time that it is possible to significantly enhance the ability of the native phosphotriesterase to hydrolyze phosphorus-fluorine bonds at rates that rival the hydrolysis of paraoxon.

The principles and procedures for the assessment of the safety/risk of chemical used by the relevant WHO and EPA expert groups are outlined. The assessment in terms of acceptable daily intakes (ADIs) and reference doses (RfDs) of 25 pesticides is listed. The pesticides assessed are acephate, alachlor, amitrole, azinphos-methyl, benomyl, biphenthrin, bromophos, chlordane, chlorthalonil, cyhalothrin, DDT, EPTC, ethion, folpet, fosetyl-al, glyphosate, isofenphos, methomyl, methyl mercury, paraquat, phosphamidon, systhane, terbutyn, tribultyltin oxide, and vinclozin. In addition, their critical effects, the no-observed-effect levels and the size of the safety/uncertainty factors used are also listed to illustrate the diversity of the toxic effects and the resulting assessments. Furthermore, the enormous amount of data reviewed and the complex scientific judgement involved are also indicated. Considering the various uncertainties existing, the ADIs and RfDs do not differ appreciably in most instances. However, marked differences exist between the ADIs and RfDs of DDT and chlordane. It is suggested that re-evaluation be done on these, and perhaps other, chemicals.

The main objective of this work is to develop a routine quality control method for pesticide residues in cocoa beans, using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. The investigated pesticides, which are used to control pests in the growing of cacao, are: Acephate, Propoxur, HCH, Heptachlor, Fenitrothion, Pirimiphos-methyl, Aldrin, Dieldrin, pp'-DDE, op-DDE and DDT. Two extraction methods were tested. The first was based on strong attack by concentrated sulphuric acid and later extraction with n-hexane: the investigated residues were Acephate, HCH, Fenitrothion and DDT; recoveries were 68-95% and the detection limits 0.5-10 ppb. The second extraction method was based on the Universal Trace Residue Extractor (UNITREX), which consists of a distillation system for organophosphorus and organochlorine pesticides in fatty samples. The investigated residues were Heptachlor, Pirimiphos-methyl, Aldrin, Propoxur, Dieldrin, op-DDE and pp'-DDE; recoveries were 67-88% and the detection limits 1-10 ppb.

1. The molecular composition of acetylcholinesterase (AChE) obtained from cockroach neural, and rat brain tissues was different. Vertebrate enzyme exhibited a higher degree of polymerization than insect enzyme. 2. Acephate was a potent inhibitor of cockroach AChE, but a poor inhibitor of rat AChE. Unlike acephate, methamidophos was a potent inhibitor of both cockroach and rat enzymes. Acephate exhibited greater affinity for the cockroach-AChE than for the rat-AChE, and acephate phosphorylated the cockroach-AChE several times faster than the rat enzyme. The rate of phosphorylation of insect and rat AChE was similar in the presence of methamidophos. Solubilization of AChE by Triton X-100 altered the kinetics of inhibition of rat AChE by acephate. However, solubilization did not alter the kinetics of inhibition of rat AChE by methamidophos or the kinetics of inhibition of cockroach AChE by acephate or methamidophos. 3. The mechanism of acephate-cockroach AChE interaction was different than the mechanism of acephate-rat AChE interaction. It is proposed that both the rat and cockroach enzyme may contain, along with the anionic and esteratic sites, an "electron deficient" (ED) binding site which may exhibit selectivity for acephate and nefopam. The ED site in rat-AChE has allosteric properties, whereas the cockroach-AChE does not. It is also proposed that the ED site in cockroach-AChE may be situated in or adjacent to the active site and, therefore, acephate may be bound to the ED site such that the phosphate moiety of acephate interacts with the enzyme's "esteratic" site. Although nefopam also bound to the ED site in cockroach AChE, it did not inhibit the enzyme. This study also indicated that the ED site in rat-AChE may be peripheral to the active site, and that the binding of acephate to this site prevented the phosphorylation by methamidophos of the rat-AChE. Unlike acephate, methamidophos specifically bound to the active site in both the rat- and cockroach-AChE.

The toxicity of acephate to four species of aquatic insects, as well as the metabolism and cholinesterase-inhibiting properties of the chemical in the rat were studied. The results indicated that mayfly larvae were very sensitive to the toxic effects of acephate, whereas larvae of the stonefly, damselfly and mosquito were much less sensitive. In the rat, orally-administered acephate was rapidly absorbed from the intestines and severely inhibited the cholinesterases in the blood and brain. The enzymes began to recover after 24 hours, while the chemical was completely eliminated within three days. The amount of methamidophos observed in the liver was extremely low. The cholinesterase-inhibiting properties of acephate and methamidophos were compared in vitro to that of paraoxon, a known strong anticholinesterase. Enzymes from four vertebrates were used. In all cases, except one, acephate was found to be six orders of magnitude weaker than paraoxon, whereas methamidophos was three orders weaker. Trout brain cholinesterase was the exception; it was as sensitive to paraoxon as it was to methamidophos. Finally, four cholinesterases were inhibited with methamidophos, and their ability to reactivate spontaneously or to recover by induction with pyridine aldoxime methiodide (PAM) in vitro were determined. The results suggested that methamidophos-inhibited cholinesterases did not reactivate spontaneously; instead the enzymes remained inhibited either in a phosphorylated or an aged state. The significance of these results are discussed in relation to the use of acephate for forest insect pests.

Impurities such as O,S,S-trimethyl phosphorodithioate (TMPD) and the S-methyl isomer of malathion (isomalathion) strongly potentiated the mammalian toxicity of malathion. In contrast, impurities present in the phosphoramidothioate insecticide acephate had an antagonizing effect on its mammalian toxicity. The potentiation of the toxicity of malathion was attributed to inhibition of mammalian liver and serum carboxylesterase. O,O,S-Trimethyl phosphorothioate (TMP), another impurity present in technical malathion and in other organophosphorus insecticides, proved to be highly toxic. Rats given a single oral dose of TMP at a level as low as 20 mg/kg died over a period of three weeks, with death occurring with non-cholinergic signs of poisoning. TMPD also caused similar delayed death in rats. O,O,O-Trimethyl phosphorothioate (TMP=S), also another impurity in technical malathion and a structural isomer of TMP, was a potent antagonist to the delayed toxicity of TMP. Examination of a number of related trialkyl phosphorothioate and dialkyl alkylphosphonothioate esters revealed several of these compounds to be highly toxic to rats.

The Lineweaver-Burk plot of the activity of human serum cholinesterase against the concentration of butyrylthiocholineiodide was shown by two intersecting lines. The Hill plot of cholinesterase activity was linear over the entire range of the substrate concentration. The n value, an interaction coefficient, was less than 1.0 (about 0.8). These results suggest that cholinesterase has multiple substrate binding sites. Acephate, one of the organophosphorous insecticides, inhibited the activity of cholinesterase. Acephate at concentration under 1.25 mM (about 230 ppm in serum) did not inhibit the activity of cholinesterase. The minimum concentration of acephate inhibition of cholinesterase activity was at 2.5 mM. An equilibrium constant(K) can be used as an indicator of inhibitory effect on cholinesterase. The serum cholinesterase activity of workers who were exposed to acephate is not affected when the concentration of acephate in serum is less than 200 ppm. This result suggests that the activity of serum cholinesterase is not an accurate indicator of the exposure of the low toxic insecticides, e.g. acephate. The inhibitory effect of acephate on cholinesterase decreased after the incubation with S-9 mixture. This result suggests that a part of acephate is metabolized to inactive substances in the liver.