Inhibition and labeling of enzymes and abzymes by phosphonate diesters

Reactive phosphonate diesters were designed and prepared as inhibitors of serine proteases and esterases. Inactivation of trypsin, chymotrypsin, and butyrylcholinesterase was determined by residual enzymaticactivity as well as by the release of a chromogenic or fluorogenic product of the inhibition reaction. Second-order rate constants were determined from rates of nitrophenol formation. Application of the reaction for active-site titration of enzyme preparations is demonstrated. A basic functional group present in the nitrophenyl tropane phosphonate diester was shown to confer selectivity for inactivation of try psin and chymotrypsin. Biotinylated derivatives of the phosphonate diesters were prepared to permitanalysis of proteins modified in the inhibition reaction. Labeled polypeptides were resolved by SDSPAGE, electroblotted, and detected by streptavidin-peroxidase staining. A detection limit of less than 4 ng, corresponding to 20 nM of trypsin, was demonstrated. Pretretment of enzymes with DFP or nonbiotinylated phosphonates specifically blocks the labeling. This technique permits identification of serine proteases in complex mixtures with good sensitivity and specificity.