Identification and study of biomarkers from novichok-inhibited butyrylcholinesterase in human plasma

Abstract

To identify biomarkers of ethyl (1-(diethylamino)ethylidene)phosphoramidofluoridate (A234)-or methyl (1-(diethylamino)ethylidene)phosphoramidofluoridate (A232)-inhibited butyryl-cholinesterase (BChE), we investigated nonapeptide adducts containing the active site serine, which plays a key role in enzyme activity, using LC-MS/HRMS. Biomarkers were acquired as expected, and they exhibited a significant amount of fragment ions from the inhibiting agent itself, in contrast to the MS2 spectra of conventional nerve agents. These biomarkers had a higher abundance of [M+2H]2+ ions than [M+H]+ ions, making doubly charged ions more suitable for trace analysis.