Methylfluorophosphonylcholine (MFPCh) is an extremely toxic
chemical compound
A chemical compound is a chemical substance composed of many identical molecules (or molecular entities) containing atoms from more than one chemical element held together by chemical bonds. A molecule consisting of atoms of only one element ...
related to the G-series
nerve agent
Nerve agents, sometimes also called nerve gases, are a class of organic chemicals that disrupt the mechanisms by which nerves transfer messages to organs. The disruption is caused by the blocking of acetylcholinesterase (AChE), an enzyme that ...
s. It is an extremely potent
acetylcholinesterase inhibitor
Acetylcholinesterase inhibitors (AChEIs) also often called cholinesterase inhibitors, inhibit the enzyme acetylcholinesterase from breaking down the neurotransmitter acetylcholine into choline and acetate, thereby increasing both the level and ...
which is around 100 times more potent than
sarin
Sarin (NATO designation GB G-series, "B"">Nerve_agent#G-series.html" ;"title="hort for Nerve agent#G-series">G-series, "B" is an extremely toxic synthetic organophosphorus compound. and around 10 times more potent ''in vivo'', depending on
route of administration
A route of administration in pharmacology and toxicology is the way by which a medication, drug, fluid, poison, or other substance is taken into the body.
Routes of administration are generally classified by the location at which the substance i ...
and animal species tested. MFPCh is resistant to oxime reactivators, meaning the
acetylcholinesterase
Acetylcholinesterase (HGNC symbol ACHE; EC 3.1.1.7; systematic name acetylcholine acetylhydrolase), also known as AChE, AChase or acetylhydrolase, is the primary cholinesterase in the body. It is an enzyme
Enzymes () are proteins that a ...
inhibited by MFPCh can't be reactivated by oxime reactivators. MFPCh also acts directly on the
acetylcholine receptor
An acetylcholine receptor (abbreviated AChR) is an integral membrane protein that responds to the binding of acetylcholine, a neurotransmitter.
Classification
Like other transmembrane receptors, acetylcholine receptors are classified according ...
s. However, despite its high toxicity, methylfluorophosphonylcholine is a relatively unstable compound and degrades rapidly in storage, so it was not deemed suitable to be weaponised for military use.Black RM, Harrison JM. The chemistry of organophosphorus chemical warfare agents. Chapter 10 of The chemistry of organophosphorus compounds. Volume 4, Ter- and quinque-valent phosphorus acids and their derivatives. (1996)
See also
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GV (nerve agent)
GV (IUPAC name: 2-(Dimethylamino)ethyl ''N'',''N''-dimethylphosphoramidofluoridate) is an organophosphate nerve agent. GV is a part of a new series of nerve agents with properties similar to both the "G-series" and "V-series". It is a potent ace ...
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Sarin
Sarin (NATO designation GB G-series, "B"">Nerve_agent#G-series.html" ;"title="hort for Nerve agent#G-series">G-series, "B" is an extremely toxic synthetic organophosphorus compound.TMTFA
TMTFA is an extremely potent acetylcholinesterase inhibitor. As a transition state analog of acetylcholinesterase, TMTFA is able to inhibit acetylcholinesterase at extremely low concentrations (within the femtomolar range), making it one of the ...