Stereoselective detoxification of chiral sarin and soman analogues by phosphotriesterase

Article abstract of DOI:10.1016/S0968-0896(01)00113-4

The catalytic activity of the bacterial phosphotriesterase (PTE) toward a series of chiral analogues of the chemical warfare agents sarin and soman was measured. Chemical procedures were developed for the chiral syntheses of the S_P- and R_P-enantiomers of O-isopropyl p-nitrophenyl methylphosphonate (sarin analogue) in high enantiomeric excess. The R_P-enantiomer of the sarin analogue (k_cat = 2600 s^-1) was the preferred substrate for the wild-type PTE relative to the corresponding S_P-enantiomer (k_cat = 290 s^-1). The observed stereoselectivity was reversed using the PTE mutant, I106A/F132A/H254Y where the k_cat values for the R_P- and S_P-enantiomers were 410 and 4200 s^-1, respectively. A chemo-enzymatic procedure was developed for the chiral synthesis of the four stereoisomers of O-pinacolyl p-nitrophenyl methylphosphonate (soman analogue) with high diastereomeric excess. The R_PR_C-stereoisomer of the soman analogue was the preferred substrate for PTE. The k_cat values for the soman analogues were measured as follows: R_PR_C, 48 s^-1; R_PS_C, 4.8 s^-1; S_PR_C, 0.3 s^-1, and S_PS_C, 0.04 s^-1. With the I106A/F132A/H254Y mutant of PTE the stereoselectivity toward the chiral phosphorus center was reversed. With the triple mutant the k_cat values for the soman analogues were found to be as follows: R_PR_C, 0.3 s^-1; R_PS_C, 0.3 s^-1; S_PR_C, 11 s^-1, and S_PS_C, 2.1 s^-1. Prior investigations have demonstrated that the S_P-enantiomers of sarin and soman are significantly more toxic than the R_P-enantiomers. This investigation has demonstrated that mutants of the wild-type PTE can be readily constructed with enhanced catalytic activities toward the most toxic stereoisomers of sarin and soman.

Full text of DOI:10.1016/S0968-0896(01)00113-4

Bioorganic & Medicinal Chemistry 9 (2001) 2083–2091
Stereoselective Detoxification of Chiral Sarin and
Soman Analogues by Phosphotriesterase
Wen-Shan Li, Karin T. Lum, Misty Chen-Goodspeed,
Miguel A. Sogorb and Frank M. Raushel*
Department of Chemistry, Texas A&M University, PO Box 30012, College Station, TX 77842-3012, USA
Received 10 January 2001; accepted 27 March 2001
Abstract—The catalytic activity of the bacterial phosphotriesterase (PTE) toward a series of chiral analogues of the chemical war-
fare agents sarin and soman was measured. Chemical procedures were developed for the chiral syntheses of the SP- and RP-enan-
tiomers of O-isopropyl p-nitrophenyl methylphosphonate (sarin analogue) in high enantiomeric excess. The RP-enantiomer of the
sarin analogue (kcat=2600 sꢀ1) was the preferred substrate for the wild-type PTE relative to the corresponding SP-enantiomer
(kcat=290 sꢀ1). The observed stereoselectivity was reversed using the PTE mutant, I106A/F132A/H254Y where the kcat values for
the RP- and SP-enantiomers were 410 and 4200 sꢀ1, respectively. A chemo-enzymatic procedure was developed for the chiral
synthesis of the four stereoisomers of O-pinacolyl p-nitrophenyl methylphosphonate (soman analogue) with high diastereomeric
excess. The RPRC-stereoisomer of the soman analogue was the preferred substrate for PTE. The kcat values for the soman analogues
were measured as follows: RPRC, 48 sꢀ1; RPSC, 4.8 sꢀ1; SPRC, 0.3 sꢀ1, and SPSC, 0.04 sꢀ1. With the I106A/F132A/H254Y mutant of
PTE the stereoselectivity toward the chiral phosphorus center was reversed. With the triple mutant the kcat values for the soman
analogues were found to be as follows: RPRC, 0.3 sꢀ1; RPSC, 0.3 sꢀ1; SPRC, 11 sꢀ1, and SPSC, 2.1 sꢀ1. Prior investigations have
demonstrated that the SP-enantiomers of sarin and soman are significantly more toxic than the RP-enantiomers. This investigation
has demonstrated that mutants of the wild-type PTE can be readily constructed with enhanced catalytic activities toward the most
toxic stereoisomers of sarin and soman. # 2001 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.
Introduction
bacterial detoxification mechanisms for organopho-
sphate esters is enzymatic hydrolysis.
Activated organophosphates triesters and organopho-
sphonate diesters are very toxic materials because of
their inherent ability to inhibit the enzyme acet-
ylcholinesterase (AChE). This property has been
exploited over the last half century through the devel-
opment of numerous commercial insecticides for agri-
cultural and household uses. For example, in the USA
today, there are approximately 40 organophosphate
insecticides registered for use by the Environmental
Protection Agency. Each year approximately 100 mil-
lion pounds of insecticides, including acephate, mala-
thion, and chlorpyrifos are applied to the environment
for the control of a variety of insects and other pests.1
The organophosphate insecticides inactivate AChE
through the irreversible phosphorylation of an active
site serine residue. The persistence of organophosphate
insecticides in the soil is significantly diminished
through microbial degradation. One of the primary
The phosphotriesterase (PTE) from Pseudomonas
diminuta is the best-characterized enzyme for the
hydrolytic detoxification of organophosphate nerve
agents.2 This enzyme is a zinc metalloprotein, which
catalyzes the hydrolysis of a wide variety of organo-
phosphates and related phosphonates with a high cata-
lytic turnover and broad substrate specificity.3 For
example, the kcat and kcat/Km values for the insecticide
paraoxon are approximately 104 sꢀ1 and 108 Mꢀ1 sꢀ1
,
respectively.4 The hydrolysis of paraoxon is illustrated
in Scheme 1. The X-ray crystal structure of PTE, deter-
mined by the Holden laboratory, has shown that the
protein folds in a ‘TIM-barrel’ motif that is embedded
with a binuclear zinc center at the active site.5,6 The zinc
metallo-center of PTE is homologous to the binuclear
*Corresponding author. Tel.:+1-979-845-3373; fax: +1-979-845-
9452; e-mail: raushel@tamu.edu
Scheme 1.
0968-0896/01/$ - see front matter # 2001 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.
PII: S0968-0896(01)00113-4

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W.-S. Li et al. / Bioorg. Med. Chem. 9 (2001) 2083–2091
Ni2+-center found in urease.7 These enzymes are mem-
bers of the amidohydrolase superfamily.8
able to reverse the stereoselectivity exhibited by the
wild-type enzyme.
It has previously been demonstrated that the bacterial
PTE will hydrolyze, and thus detoxify, the military
organophosphonate nerve agents sarin (1) and soman
(2), although the turnover numbers for these com-
pounds do not rival the rate constants for the enzymatic
hydrolysis of insecticides such as paraoxon.9,10 Never-
theless, the catalytic properties of the wild-type PTE
make it the leading candidate for the enzymatic detox-
ification of organophosphate nerve agents under a vari-
ety of field conditions. However, of particular concern is
the differential toxicity for the stereoisomers of the
nerve agents, sarin and soman. Sarin has a single chiral
center at phosphorus while soman possesses an addi-
tional center of asymmetry within the pinacolyl sub-
stituent. The structures of these stereoisomers are
illustrated in Scheme 2. It has been determined that the
SP-enantiomer of sarin (1) inactivates AChE ꢁ104 times
faster than the RP-enantiomer.11 For soman (2), the two
SP-diastereomers inactivate AChE ꢁ105 times faster
than the two RP-diastereomers.12
Results
Preparation of the chiral sarin analogues
The two enantiomers of the sarin analogue (8) were
prepared by an entirely chemical method and also
through a kinetic resolution of a racemic mixture of
both enantiomers using mutants of phosphotriesterase
with modified catalytic properties. The key step in the
chemical route was the fractional crystallization of the
individual RP- and SP-isomers of intermediate 5 using
the two enantiomers of 1-phenylethylamine.14 The
absolute stereochemistry for each enantiomer of 5 was
determined by X-ray crystallography using the known
configuration of the chiral amine in the salt 6 as a point
of reference. The chiral phosphonothioic acids were
then converted via three chemical transformations of
known stereochemical outcome to the sarin analogue
targets. Kinetic assays with the wild-type PTE defini-
tively established that the RP-enantiomer was hydro-
lyzed about an order of magnitude faster than the SP-
enantiomer (see Table 1).
The wild-type PTE is moderately stereoselective for the
hydrolysis of chiral organophosphate triesters. All pos-
sible combinations of the substituents methyl, ethyl,
isopropyl, and phenyl have been synthesized and char-
acterized as substrates for PTE using the template
depicted in Scheme 3.13 In every case the preferred ste-
reoisomer is the one where the substituent ‘Y’ is bulkier
than the substituent ‘X’. The ratios of the experimental
kcat/Km values for the SP- and RP-enantiomers in this
series of stereoisomers ranged from 1 to 90.13 These
results have been shown to be consistent with the physical
dimensions of the subsites within the active site of PTE.
A library of active site mutants of PTE was surveyed in
order to identify enzymes that were more stereoselective
for the RP-enantiomer than the wild-type enzyme. This
same library was also probed for mutant enzymes that
would prefer the SP-enantiomer relative to the RP-
enantiomer. The G60A mutant was found to have an
enhanced stereoselectivity for the RP-isomer of the sarin
analogue while the mutant I106A/F132A/H257Y pos-
sessed a preference for the SP-isomer. The differing
chiral preferences for these two mutants are graphically
shown in Figure 1. In this experiment, G60A was able
to hydrolyze only one stereoisomer at a significant rate
of the racemic mixture while I106A/F132A/H257Y was
able to hydrolyze the remaining stereoisomer. This dis-
covery permitted the utilization of these two isomers in
the kinetic resolution of either stereoisomer from the
racemic mixture. When the G60A mutant was used as
the hydrolytic catalyst, the SP-isomer was isolated in
high yield with a very low contamination by the RP-
isomer. The RP-isomer was isolated in high yield and
excellent enantiomeric excess using the mutant I106A/
F132A/H257Y.
In this paper, we have examined the stereoselective
properties of the wild-type PTE toward chiral analogues
of sarin and soman. Since the individual stereoisomers
of these nerve agents are not readily available, we have
developed novel chemo-enzymatic syntheses of chiral
analogues where the leaving group fluoride has been
replaced with p-nitrophenol. This substitution provides
for a convenient optical signal of the cleavage event.
For the sarin analogue the relative rates of hydrolysis
for the two enantiomers varied by an order of magni-
tude when the wild-type PTE was used as a catalyst.
With the soman analogue, the relative rates of hydro-
lysis differed by nearly four orders of magnitude. A small
number of mutations within the active site of PTE were
Kinetic analysis of chiral sarin analogues
The purified enantiomers of the sarin analogues, SP-8
and RP-8, in addition to the racemic mixture, were tested
Scheme 2.
Scheme 3.

W.-S. Li et al. / Bioorg. Med. Chem. 9 (2001) 2083–2091
2085
Table 1. Kinetic parameters for PTE and selected mutants with analogues of soman and sarina
Substrate
Wild type
G60A
I106A/F132A/H257Y
kcat
(sꢀ1
Km
(mM)
kcat/Km
(Mꢀ1 sꢀ1
kcat
(sꢀ1
Km
(mM)
kcat/Km
(Mꢀ1 sꢀ1
kcat
(sꢀ1
Km
(mM)
kcat/Km
(Mꢀ1 sꢀ1
)
)
)
)
)
)
RP/SP-8
RP-8
SP-8
RPRC/RPSC-11
SpRc/SpSc-11
RPRC/SPRC-11
RPSC/SPSC-11
RPRC-11
1800ꢂ15
2600ꢂ69
290ꢂ2
0.44ꢂ0.01 (4.5ꢂ0.2)ꢃ106 2300ꢂ110
0.31ꢂ0.02 (8.2ꢂ0.1)ꢃ106 2900ꢂ200
0.28ꢂ0.03 (8.5ꢂ0.5)ꢃ106 3700ꢂ370
5.1ꢂ0.6 (7.3ꢂ0.1)ꢃ105
4.6ꢂ0.4 (9.0ꢂ0.1)ꢃ104
1.6ꢂ0.1 (2.7ꢂ0.1)ꢃ106
1.6ꢂ0.4 (2.9ꢂ0.2)ꢃ103
0.98ꢂ0.3 (5.6ꢂ1)ꢃ103
0.93ꢂ0.3 (1.2ꢂ0.3)ꢃ103
1.1ꢂ0.3 (2.8ꢂ0.5)ꢃ102
4.5ꢂ1.1 (5.6ꢂ0.4)ꢃ101
1.2ꢂ0.1 (9.2ꢂ2)ꢃ103
1.7ꢂ0.2 (1.2ꢂ0.1)ꢃ103
0.27ꢂ0.02 (1.1ꢂ0.1)ꢃ107
410ꢂ17
0.72ꢂ0.01 (4.1ꢂ0.1)ꢃ105
1.1ꢂ0.01 (4.0ꢂ0.1)ꢃ104
58ꢂ2
0.80ꢂ0.1
(7.2ꢂ0.2)ꢃ104 4200ꢂ130
44ꢂ2
93ꢂ13
1.0ꢂ0.3
(9.3ꢂ1)ꢃ104
4.6ꢂ0.6
40ꢂ7
9.6ꢂ0.4
48ꢂ2
1.1ꢂ0.3
0.34ꢂ0.07 (1.6ꢂ0.2)ꢃ105
(3.6ꢂ0.5)ꢃ104
92ꢂ13
16ꢂ1
0.75ꢂ0.23 (1.2ꢂ0.2)ꢃ105
5.6ꢂ0.6
1.1ꢂ0.1
0.3ꢂ0.03
0.3ꢂ0.05
11ꢂ1
1.0ꢂ0.1
(9.6ꢂ0.4)ꢃ103
0.29ꢂ0.06 (5.3ꢂ1)ꢃ104
120ꢂ11
33ꢂ3
0.8ꢂ0.2
0.6ꢂ0.1
10ꢂ2
(1.5ꢂ0.2)ꢃ105
(5.6ꢂ0.6)ꢃ104
(7.0ꢂ0.6)ꢃ100
(7.1ꢂ0.4)ꢃ100
RPSC-11
SPRC-11
SPSC-11
4.8ꢂ0.06 0.42ꢂ0.02 (1.2ꢂ0.4)ꢃ104
0.3ꢂ0.03 0.78ꢂ0.17 (3.8ꢂ0.5)ꢃ102 0.07ꢂ0.01
0.04ꢂ0.01
2.4ꢂ0.5
(1.6ꢂ0.1)ꢃ101 0.02ꢂ0.001
2.8ꢂ0.4
2.1ꢂ0.2
aThe enzyme activity was measured in 50 mM CHES, pH 9.0 for the sarin analogues (8), and 50 mM CHES, pH 9.0, 10% methanol for the soman
analogues (11).
as substrates for the wild-type enzyme and the two
mutant enzymes, G60A and I106A/F132A/H257Y. For
the wild-type enzyme the kcat for the RP-isomer is ꢁ9
times faster than the SP-isomer while kcat/Ka is 20 times
more favorable. For the mutant G60A, the chiral pref-
erence for the RP-isomer of 8 is enhanced relative to the
wild-type enzyme. Thus, the ratios of kcat and kcat/Ka
for G60A are 50- and 140-fold more favorable, respec-
tively, for the RP-stereoisomer. In contrast, the kcat for
the triple mutant is 10 times greater for the SP-isomer
than the RP-isomer while kcat/Ka is 30-fold higher for
the same isomer. The actual kinetic constants are pre-
sented in Table 1.
diastereomers. These two pairs of diastereomers were of
a single configuration at the chiral carbon center but
racemic at the phosphorus center (SPRC/RPRC-11 and
SPSC/RPSC-11). For each pair of diastereomers, the
wild-type PTE hydrolyzed one of the stereoisomers at a
significantly faster rate than the other (data not shown).
By analogy with the known stereoselectivity exhibited
by the wild-type enzyme for the sarin analogues (see
above) and six paraoxon triesters,13 the more rapidly
hydrolyzed stereoisomer within each pair of diaster-
eomers was concluded to be of the RP-configuration.
This conclusion was supported by the preference for the
same isomer when the mutant G60A was tested with
these two pairs of diastereomers.
Chemoenzymatic preparation of chiral soman analogues
The differential rates of hydrolysis exhibited by G60A
and I106A/F132A/H257Y for the two stereoisomers
contained within the two mixtures of diastereomers are
graphically presented in Figures 2 and 3. It is assumed
in both cases that G60A is preferentially hydrolyzing
The preparation of the chiral soman analogues (11)
began with the chemical resolution of the chiral pina-
coyl alcohol (10). The utilization of these alcohols to
displace one of the p-nitrophenolic groups from
intermediate 9 enabled the construction of two sets of
Figure 2. Time course for the hydrolysis of the diastereomeric mixture
of the soman analogue SPRC-11 and RPRC-11 using the mutant forms
of PTE. The total concentration of the soman analogue 11 (35 mM)
was determined by the addition of KOH. The PTE mutant G60A was
added at zero time to hydrolyze the RPRC-11 enantiomer. After 15
min, the I106A/F132A/H257Y mutant form of PTE was added to
hydrolyze the SPRC-11 enantiomer.
Figure 1. Time course for the hydrolysis of the racemic sarin analogue
8 using the mutant forms of PTE. The total concentration of the sarin
analogue 8 (36 mM) was determined by the addition of KOH. The PTE
mutant G60A was added at zero time to hydrolyze the RP-enantiomer
to completion. After 15 min, the I106A/F132A/H257Y mutant form
of PTE was added to hydrolyze the SP-enantiomer.

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W.-S. Li et al. / Bioorg. Med. Chem. 9 (2001) 2083–2091
the RP-isomers while I106A/F132A/H257Y is pre-
ferentially hydrolyzing the SP-isomers. These contrast-
ing stereoselectivities made it technically feasible to use
these two mutants as catalysts for the kinetic resolution
of the two pairs of diastereomers into the four indivi-
dual stereoisomers in high yield and excellent enantio-
meric purity. The overall synthetic protocol is outlined
in Scheme 5.
obtained for the insecticide paraoxon. Thus, a sub-
stantial fraction of the inherent catalytic power within
the native PTE is available for the hydrolysis of the RP-
isomer of the sarin analogue 8. For the SP-enantiomer
of the sarin analogue 8, the values of kcat and kcat/Km
(Table 1) are approximately an order of magnitude
smaller. This stereoselectivity towards the RP-enantio-
mer of 8 is consistent with the previously determined
substrate specificity of PTE using a small library of
organophosphate triesters.13 The catalytic preference
for the hydrolysis of the sarin analogue RP-8 over SP-8
can also be rationalized structurally on the basis of the
optimized size of the subsites for the binding of the
i-propyl substituent relative to that for the methyl sub-
stituent of the two enantiomers.15
Kinetic analysis of chiral soman analogues
The four soman analogue stereoisomers were char-
acterized as substrates for the wild-type PTE and the
two mutant enzymes, G60A and I106A/F132A/H257Y.
For the wild-type enzyme the catalytic selectivity as
measured by kcat/Ka is RPRC:RPSC/SPRC/SPSC of
10,000:750:23:1. The same relative order of isomeric
preferences was found for G60A where the relative rates
were determined to be 21,000:8000:1:1. For the triple
mutant, the relative stereoselectivity was found to be
5:1:164:21. The stereoselectivity of the G60A mutant for
the RP-isomer is more pronounced than the wild-type
enzyme while the triple mutant is actually reversed but
the rate differential between the fastest and slowest ste-
reoisomers is diminished. The catalytic constants are
presented in Table 1.
The wild-type PTE is able to hydrolyze the analogue of
the most toxic stereoisomer of the nerve agent sarin.
However, the rate of hydrolysis of this substrate is sig-
nificantly slower than the turnover rate with the less
toxic RP-enantiomer of the sarin analogue. If PTE is
going to achieve its full potential as an agent for the
catalytic destruction of toxic nerve agents, then deriva-
tives of this protein with altered kinetic properties must
be constructed and more fully characterized. The cata-
lytic properties of the triple mutant of PTE, I106A/
F132A/H257Y, effectively demonstrate that structural
variants of PTE can be readily constructed with sig-
nificant enhancements to both kcat and kcat/Km for the
initially slower SP-isomer of the sarin analogue 8. This
objective was met through a subtle alteration of the two
binding subsites within the active site of PTE that dic-
tate the catalytic and substrate specificity of this
enzyme. Prior X-ray crystallographic analysis of PTE in
the presence of a bound inhibitor by the Holden
laboratory has localized those residues that dictate the
structural dimensions of these binding subsites.15 In the
example presented here, the small subsite was slightly
enlarged through the mutation of Ile-106 and Phe-132
to alanine residues while the large subsite was
diminished in size by the conversion of His-257 to a
phenylalanine. These three changes enhanced the
turnover rate of the initially slower SP-isomer by
approximately one order of magnitude and reduced the
rate of turnover of the initially faster RP-isomer by the
same amount.
Discussion
Enzymatic hydrolysis of sarin analogues
The wild-type PTE and the selected mutants are able to
catalyze the hydrolysis of both stereoisomers of the
sarin analogue 8. For the RP-isomer, kcat and kcat/Km
with the wild type enzyme are 2600 sꢀ1 and 8.2ꢃ106
Mꢀ1 ꢀ1, respectively. The magnitude of these values is
s
approximately one third the size of the kinetic constants
Enzymatic hydrolysis of soman analogues
All four analogues of the soman stereoisomers are sub-
strates for the wild-type PTE. However, there is a rather
large variance in the rate of substrate turnover that is very
much dependent on the specific stereochemical con-
figuration around the phosphorus center and the chiral
pinacoyl substituent. The extreme values of kcat differ by
a factor of ꢁ1000 while kcat/Km for the RPRC-isomer of
analogue 11 is four orders of magnitude greater than it
is for the corresponding SPSC-isomer. The two diaster-
eomers with the RP-configuration are better substrates
than the two diastereomers with the SP-configuration.
Moreover, the RC-isomer of the chiral pinacoyl sub-
stituent is preferred in both pairs of diastereomers by a
factor of about 10 over the SC-configuration.
Figure 3. Time course for the hydrolysis of the diastereomeric mixture
of the soman analogue SPSC-11 and RPSC-11 using the mutant forms
of PTE. The total concentration of the soman analogue 11 (35 mM)
was determined by the addition of KOH. The PTE mutant G60A was
added at zero time to hydrolyze the RPSC-11 enantiomer. After 15
min, the I106A/F132A/H257Y mutant form of PTE was added to
hydrolyze the SPSC-11 enantiomer.

W.-S. Li et al. / Bioorg. Med. Chem. 9 (2001) 2083–2091
2087
A comparison in the rates of overall turnover for the
soman analogue (11) with the sarin analogue (8) clearly
shows that the pinacoyl substituent is tolerated less well
within the active site of the wild-type enzyme than is the
i-propyl group. For example, the RP-isomer of 8 is
hydrolyzed about two orders of magnitude faster than is
the RPRC-isomer of 11. A similar difference is found in
the corresponding values of kcat/Km. The data collected
in this investigation also demonstrate that the wild-type
PTE hydrolyzes the two stereoisomer of the most toxic
analogues of soman significantly more slowly than the
analogues of the two least toxic stereoisomers. If PTE is
going to be an effective reagent for the catalytic
destruction of soman then the rate of hydrolysis of the
most toxic stereoisomers must be significantly enhanced
through site-directed and combinatorial mutagenesis.
For the SPSC-enantiomer increases in kcat and kcat/Km
of nearly 4 orders of magnitude should be obtainable.
The catalytic properties of the I106A/F132A/H257Y
mutant with the analogues of the two SP-diastereomers
of 11 show that such gains in catalytic activity are likely
to be achieved. This mutant has a 50-fold enhancement
in the value of kcat and a 75-fold increase in kcat/Km for
the SPSC-enantiomer of 11.
mutants of the wild-type PTE can be readily constructed
with enhanced catalytic activities toward the most toxic
stereoisomers of sarin and soman.
Experimental
Materials
Methylphosphonothioic dichloride, RC-1-phenylethyla-
mine, SC-1-phenylethylamine, phosphorus pentachlor-
ide, m-chloroperbenzoic acid (m-CPBA), racemic
pinacolyl alcohol, phthalic anhydride, brucine, 1,8-dia-
zabicyclo [5,4,0] undec-7-ene (DBU) and RC-mandelic
acid were obtained from Aldrich. Restriction enzymes
and T4 DNA ligase were obtained from Promega or
New England Biolabs. Wizard Miniprep DNA Pur-
ification System was purchased from Promega. Gene
Clean DNA purification kit was purchased from Bio
101. Oligonucleotide synthesis and DNA sequencing
reactions were conducted by the Gene Technology
Laboratory of Texas A&M University.
General methods
Enzymatic hydrolysis of sarin and soman. In preliminary
experiments conducted in collaboration with Drs. Ste-
ven Harvey and Joseph DeFrank of the Edgewood
Chemical and Biological Center, the wild-type PTE, in
addition to the I106A/F132A/H257Y and G60A mutant
enzymes, has been shown to catalyze the hydrolysis of
racemic mixtures of sarin and soman. The time courses
have also been shown to be bi-phasic and thus con-
sistent with differential turnover rates for the individual
enantiomers. Turnover rates exceeded 1000 sꢀ1 for the
I106A/F132A/H257Y mutant PTE with racemic sarin.
This value is 3 times larger than is the value of the wild-
type enzyme but the catalytic constants for the indivi-
dual enantiomers have not, as yet, been measured. For
racemic soman, the G60A mutant has a turnover num-
ber that is greater than 10 sꢀ1 and is approximately three
times faster than the wild-type enzyme. The turnover
numbers for the sarin and soman analogues measured in
the investigation reported here are very similar to the
preliminary values obtained for sarin and soman them-
selves. Therefore, the utilization of the chiral enantio-
mers in the development of novel mutants of PTE with
enhanced catalytic activities will be productive. Experi-
ments designed to sample a larger fraction of amino
acid sequence space within the vicinity of the two bind-
ing subsites of PTE are currently in progress.
Optical rotations were obtained using a Jasco DIP-360
digital polarimeter. NMRspectra were obtained with a
Varian Unity Plus 300, VXR-300 or XL-200E spectro-
meters. Proton chemical shifts (d) are reported in parts
per million (ppm) relative to the methine singlet at
7.26 ppm for the residual CHCl3 in the deuteriochloro-
form, or the methyl pentet at 3.30 ppm for the residual
CHD2OD in the methanol-d4. Carbon chemical shifts
are reported in parts per million relative to the internal
13C signals in CDCl3 (77.0 ppm) and CD3OD-d4
(49.0 ppm). 31P NMRspectra were referenced using
phosphoric acid as an external standard. Mass spectra
(MS) were obtained on a VG 70-250 spectrometer using
electron impact ionization (20–40 eV).
Site directed mutagenesis
Changes to the amino acid sequence of the phospho-
triesterase enzyme were initiated by cassette mutagen-
esis of the opd gene within the plasmid pJW01.16,17
Unique restriction sites on either side of the codon to be
mutated were identified and the targeted site was excised
with the appropriate enzymes. The digested fragment
was purified by agarose gel electrophoresis. The two
mutagenic primers were annealed by incubating 20 mL
of 1–2 mM of each oligonucleotide with 2 mL of T4 DNA
ligase buffer at 72 ꢄC for 5 min and then incubated at
25 ꢄC for 1 h. The annealed oligonucleotides and
restricted pJW01 plasmid were ligated with T4 DNA
ligase at 16 ꢄC overnight and then transformed into BL-
21 cells. The mutated plasmids were sequenced to
ensure that no other alterations were introduced during
the mutagenic protocols.
Conclusion
Chemical procedures were developed for the chiral
syntheses of the SP- and RP-enantiomers of O-isopropyl
p-nitrophenyl methylphosphonate (sarin analogue) in
high enantiomeric excess. A chemo-enzymatic proce-
dure was developed for the chiral synthesis of the four
stereoisomers of O-pinacolyl p-nitrophenyl methylpho-
sphonate (soman analogue) with high diastereomeric
excess. This investigation has demonstrated that
Purification of enzymes
The mutants and the wild-type PTE were expressed in
BL21 cells as previously described.18 PTE and the

2088
W.-S. Li et al. / Bioorg. Med. Chem. 9 (2001) 2083–2091
mutant enzymes were purified according to the protocol
of Omburo et al.3 SDS–PAGE indicated that the pur-
ified mutants were the same size as the wild-type PTE
and were at least 95% pure. Apoenzyme was prepared
according to an established procedure and then recon-
stituted with 5 equivalents of CoCl2.3
NMR(75 MHz, CDCl ) d 21.5 (CH3), 23.8 (d, J [31P,
3
13C]=4.2 Hz), 24.3 (d, J [31P, 13C]=4.2 Hz), 24.6 (d,
J [31P, 13C]=100.8 Hz), 51.4, 69.0 (d, J [31P,
13C]=5.5 Hz), 127.2, 128.4, 128.8, 139.0. The SC-enan-
tiomer of 1-phenylethylamine crystallized with the SP-
enantiomer of 5 with an isolated yield of 41% (mp 158–
159 ꢄC; [a]2D5 ꢀ10.8 ꢄ). (SP-6) shares the same NMR
pattern as (RP-6).
Kinetic measurements and data analysis
The enzymatic hydrolysis of paraoxon and the substrate
analogues was measured by monitoring the accumula-
Synthesis of chiral O-isopropyl p-nitrophenyl methylpho-
sphonothioate (7). The chiral methylthiophosphonates,
SP-7 and RP-7, were prepared from their corresponding
amine salt precursors in three steps. The chiral amine
salt RP-6 (1.6 g, 5.81 mmol) was suspended in 6 mL of
benzene, cooled to 0 ꢄC, and then 12.3 mL of 1 N NaOH
was added dropwise. The reaction mixture was stirred at
0 ꢄC until the amine salt was dissolved. The reaction
mixture was then diluted with 20 mL of benzene and
40 mL of water. The layers were separated and the aqu-
eous phase extracted with benzene. The combined aqu-
eous phases were cooled to 0 ꢄC, acidified to a pH<2
with HCl, and then extracted three times with 20 mL of
ether. The ether layers were combined, dried over
anhydrous sodium sulfate, and concentrated in vacuo
for 2 days to yield 0.79 g (88%) of the corresponding
free acid (RP-5). The enantiomeric purity of this com-
pound was determined using the 31P NMRmethod of
Mikolajczyk20 and found to be ꢅ99%. An oven-dried,
argon-purged, 25-mL round-bottomed flask was
charged with 1.28 g (6.1 mmol) of PCl5 and 6 mL of
CCl4 and then cooled to 0 ꢄC. The anhydrous phospho-
nothioic acid RP-5 was dissolved in 6 mL of CCl4 and
added dropwise to the PCl5 suspension. The reaction
mixture was stirred at 0 ꢄC for an additional 30 min and
then filtered. The solution was concentrated to yield
0.69 g (77%) of the crude methylphosphono-
chloridothioate (SP-4) with an inversion of configura-
tion at the phosphorus center.21 With stirring, 1.12 mL
of triethylamine (8 mmol), and then 0.56 g of p-nitro-
phenol (4 mmol) in 8 mL of anhydrous THF was slowly
added to a mixture of SP-4 dissolved in 2 mL of anhy-
drous THF. After the addition of the p-nitrophenol, the
reaction mixture was heated at 60 ꢄC overnight. After
cooling, the triethylamine hydrochloride was separated
tion of p-nitrophenol at 400 nm (e=17,000 Mꢀ1 cmꢀ1
a Gilford Model 260 spectro-
)
and 25 ꢄC using
photometer. The reactions were conducted in 50 mM
CHES buffer, pH 9.0, for paraoxon and the sarin ana-
logues while 10% methanol was added to improve the
solubility of the soman analogues. The kinetic constants
were obtained by fitting the data to eq (1), where v is the
initial velocity, Vm is the maximal velocity, A is the con-
centration of substrate, and Ka is the Michaelis constant.
ꢀ ¼ VmA=ðKa þ AÞ
ð1Þ
Synthesis of racemic O-isopropyl methylphosphonothioic
acid (5). This synthesis of racemic 5 was conducted in
two steps using a modification of the method of Hoff-
mann.19 Methylphosphonothioic dichloride (3) was reac-
ted with one equivalent of i-propyl alcohol to provide
racemic O-isopropyl methylphosphonochloridothionate
(4) with a yield of 52%. (4): b.p. 45–46 ꢄC/1.5 mm-Hg
(lit.19 41 ꢄC/0.8 mm-Hg); 1H NMR(300 MHz, CDCl 3) d
1.36 (dd, J=6.2, 10.9 Hz, 6H), 2.25 (d, J=15.4 Hz, 3H),
5.04 (m, 1H); 13C NMR(75 MHz, CDCl ) d 23.3 (d,
3
J[31P, 13C]=38.0 Hz), 23.5 (d, J[31P, 13C]=38.0 Hz),
30.4 (d, J[31P, 13C]=102.7 Hz), 73.3 (d, J[31P,
13C]=8.0 Hz). This material was then hydrolyzed to
yield the racemic O-isopropyl methylphosphonothioic
1
acid (5) with an isolated yield of 37%. (5): H NMR
(300 MHz, CDCl3) d 1.29 (dd, J=6.1, 8.6 Hz, 6H), 1.81
(d, J=15.9 Hz, 3H), 4.83 (m, 1H); 13C NMR(75 MHz,
CDCl3) d 22.5 (d, J[31P, 13C]=114.8 Hz), 23.7 (d, J[31P,
13C]=15.3 Hz), 23.8 (d, J[31P, 13C]=15.3 Hz), 71.5 (d,
J[31P, 13C]=7.1 Hz).
Table 2. Crystallographic data for (RP-6) and (SP-6)
Preparation of RC-1-phenylethylammonium RP-O-iso-
propyl methylphosphonothioate (RP-6) and SC-1-phenyle-
thylammonium SP-O-isopropyl methylphosphonothioate
(SP-6). The chiral resolution of racemic O-isopropyl
methylphosphonothioate (5) was obtained by fractional
crystallization with the individual enantiomers of 1-
phenylethylamine as previously described by Boter.14
The absolute configurations of these diastereomeric
crystalline salts were determined by X-ray diffraction
analysis in Table 2. The RP-enantiomer of 5 crystallized
with the RC-enantiomer of 1-phenylethylamine with an
isolated yield of 30% (mp 158–159 ꢄC; [a]D25 10.5ꢄ). (RP-
6): 1H NMR(300 MHz, CDCl 3) d 1.11 (dd, J=6.2,
11.6 Hz, 6H), 1.21 (d, J=22.5 Hz, 3H), 1.67 (d,
J=6.8 Hz, 3H), 4.38 (m, 1H), 4.49 (q, J=6.9 Hz, 1H,
benzylic methine proton), 7.23–7.33 (m, 3H, aromatic
protons), 7.48–7.51 (m, 2H, aromatic protons); 13C
(RP-6)
(SP-6)
Formula
Formula weight
Crystal system
Space group
Crystal size (mm)
a (A)
C12H22NO2PS
275.34
Monoclinic
P21
0.30ꢃ0.30ꢃ0.20
11.128 (16)
6.656 (12)
11.365 (2)
90
108.99 (11)
90
795.9 (2)
2
1.149
C12H22NO2PS
275.34
Monoclinic
P21
0.30ꢃ0.20ꢃ0.20
11.131 (3)
6.652 (3)
11.365 (5)
90
108.98 (3)
90
795.8 (5)
2
1.145
b (A)
c (A)
a (ꢄ)
b (ꢄ)
g (ꢄ)
V (A3)
Z
d (calculated density) (mg/m3)
Absorption coefficient (mmꢀ1
No. of total reflections
No. of unique reflections
)
0.296
0.296
2576
2466
1563
1485

W.-S. Li et al. / Bioorg. Med. Chem. 9 (2001) 2083–2091
2089
by filtration and washed with anhydrous THF. The
combined organic layers were dried (Na2SO4) and con-
centrated. The residue was chromatographed (EtOAc/
hexane=1:4) to give a pale yellowish liquid (SP-7) in
69% yield with an inversion of configuration at the
phosphorus center.22 (SP-7): 1H NMR(300 MHz,
CDCl3) d 1.29 (dd, J=6.2, 18.7 Hz, 6H), 1.99 (d,
J=15.4 Hz, 3H), 4.88 (m, 1H), 7.31 (dd, J=1.7 and
9.1 Hz, 2H, protons at the 2- and 6-positions of the p-
nitrophenoxy moiety), 8.22 (d, J=9.1 Hz, 2H, protons
at the 3- and 5-positions of the p-nitrophenoxy moiety);
containing 30% methanol was added the PTE mutant
G60A and the mixture was stirred at room temperature.
The progress of the reaction was monitored spectro-
photometrically at 400 nm. When the reaction was half-
complete, the reaction was quenched by extraction with
chloroform (3ꢃ80 mL). The combined organic layers
were dried over Na2SO4, filtered, and concentrated in
vacuo. The crude product was purified by flash chro-
matography (30% EtOAc and 70% hexane) to give
191 mg (95%) of SP-8 as a colorless liquid. The ratio of
SP-8 to RP-8 in this preparation was found to be 99:1 as
determined by chiral capillary electrophoresis.25 When
the PTE I106A/F132A/H257Y mutant was used as the
enzymatic catalyst, the RP-8 isomer was obtained in
77% yield. Chiral capillary electrophoresis indicated a
ratio of RP-8 to SP-8 of 93:7.
13C NMR(75 MHz, CDCl
) d
23.4 (d, J[31P,
3
13C]=115.3 Hz), 23.8 (d, J[31P, 13C]=2.1 Hz), 23.9 (d,
J[31P, 13C]=1.5 Hz), 73.3 (d, J[31P, 13C]=7.1 Hz), 122.5
(d, J[31P, 13C]=5.0 Hz, C2/C6 position of the p-nitro-
phenoxy moiety), 125.5 (d, J[31P, 13C]=1.0 Hz, C3/C5
position of the p-nitrophenoxy moiety), 144.9, 155.6 (d,
J[31P, 13C]=9.6 Hz, C1 position of the p-nitrophenoxy
moiety); EI–MS m/z (relative intensity) 275 (M+, 35),
234 (60), 206 (24), 155 (69). The other enantiomer (RP-7)
was prepared in the same way. (RP-7): EI–MS m/z (rela-
tive intensity) 275 (M+, 52), 234 (43), 206 (74), 155 (67).
Synthesis of racemic O-pinacolyl p-nitrophenyl methyl-
phosphonate. The racemic methylphosphonate 11 was
obtained in two steps via a bis-(p-nitrophenyl) methyl-
phosphonate intermediate (9) as described previously
for the preparation of the racemic methylphosphonate
8, except for the use of the racemic pinacolyl alcohol
(10) instead of i-propanol. The isomer ratios were
determined by chiral HPLC analysis to be SPSC/SPRC/
RPRC/RPSC of 27:22:28:23.
Synthesis of chiral O-isopropyl p-nitrophenyl methylpho-
sphonate (8). The chiral methyl phosphonates, SP-8 and
RP-8, were prepared from their corresponding thiopho-
sphonates by oxidation with m-chloroperbenzoic acid
with an overall retention of configuration at the phos-
Synthesis of diastereomeric mixture of (SP/RP)-O-(SC)-
pinacolyl p-nitrophenyl methylphosphonate (11). The
synthesis of the diastereomeric mixture of SPSC-11 and
RPSC-11 utilized the chiral SC-pinacolyl alcohol (10) to
displace p-nitrophenol from bis-(p-nitrophenyl) methyl-
phosphonate (9) in 82% overall yield using the method
described by Green et al.24 The SC-pinacolyl alcohol
(10) was prepared in five steps (11% yield) by repeated
crystallization of the brucine salt of RC/SC-pinacolyl
phthalate according to the procedure of Pickard and
Kenyon.26 Chiral HPLC analysis of the SC-pair of dia-
stereomers for compound 11 gave isomer ratios of
SPSC/SPRC/RPRC/RPSC of 50:3:3:44.
phorus center.23
A solution of m-CPBA (0.56 g,
3.27 mmol) in anhydrous dichloromethane (10 mL) was
slowly added to a solution of RP-7 (0.5 g, 1.82 mmol) in
anhydrous dichloromethane (15 mL). The solution was
stirred for 1 h at room temperature and then con-
centrated under reduced pressure. The residue was
chromatographed (EtOAc/hexane=1:4!1:1) to give a
1
colorless liquid (0.39 g, 82%) of RP-8. (RP-8): H NMR
(300 MHz, CDCl3) d 1.24 (dd, J=6.1, 27.8 Hz, 6H), 1.64
(d, J=17.8 Hz, 3H), 4.80 (m, 1H), 7.36 (dd, J=1.2 and
9.3 Hz, 2H, protons at the 2- and 6-positions of the p-
nitrophenoxy moiety), 8.20 (d, J=8.8 Hz, 2H, protons
at the 3- and 5-positions of the p-nitrophenoxy moiety);
13C NMR(75 MHz, CDCl
)
d
12.3 (d, J[31P,
Synthesis of diastereomeric mixture of SP/RP-O-RC-pi-
nacolyl p-nitrophenyl methylphosphonate (11). The dia-
stereomeric mixture of SPRC-11 and RPRC-11 was
prepared in the same way as the mixture of SPSC-11 and
RPSC-11 except for the utilization of RC-pinacolyl alco-
hol. The RC-pinacolyl alcohol (10) was obtained in three
steps (8% yield) by crystallization of the RC/SC-pinaco-
lyl-RC-mandelate from MeOH/H2O according to the
method of Benschop.12 The diastereomeric mixture of
SPRC-11 and RPRC-11 was prepared in a yield of 77%.
Chiral HPLC analysis of the RC-pair of diastereomers
for compound 11 gave isomer ratios of SPSC/SPRC/
RPRC/RPSC of 4:40:55:1.
3
13C]=146.0 Hz), 23.8 (d, J[31P, 13C]=11.3 Hz), 23.9 (d,
J[31P, 13C]=11.3 Hz), 72.1 (d, J[31P, 13C]=7.0 Hz),
121.0 (d, J[31P, 13C]=4.6 Hz, C2/C6 position of the p-
nitrophenoxy moiety), 125.6, 144.4, 155.6 (d, J[31P,
13C]=8.1 Hz, C1 position of the p-nitrophenoxy moi-
ety); EI–MS m/z (relative intensity) 259 (M+, 96), 244
(94), 217 (98), 201 (81), 139 (100). The enantiomer SP-8
was prepared with the same procedure starting with the
RP-6 precursor. The mass spectral data are as follow:
EI–MS m/z (relative intensity) 259 (M+, 81), 244 (80),
217 (84), 201 (78), 139 (100). Scheme 4 summarizes the
overall synthetic strategy for the preparation of the
individual enantiomers of 8. The synthesis of racemic O-
isopropyl p-nitrophenyl methylphosphonate (8) was
obtained in two-steps (74% overall yield) via a bis-(p-
nitrophenyl)methylphosphonate (9) intermediate as
described by Green et al.24
Enzymatic resolution of SP/RP-O-Sc-pinacolyl p-nitro-
phenyl methylphosphonate (11). The diastereomeric
mixture of SPSC-11 and RPSC-11 was resolved enzyma-
tically with the G60A and I106A/F132A/H257Y
mutants of PTE. To a solution of 3.0 mM SPSC-11 and
RPSC-11 (105 mg) in 0.5 M CHES (pH 9.0) containing
20% CH3CN was added the G60A mutant. The mixture
was stirred at room temperature and the progress of the
Enzymatic resolution of racemic O-isopropyl p-nitrophe-
nyl methylphosphonate. To a solution of 5.0 mM race-
mic 8 (390 mg) in 0.5 M CHES buffer (pH 9.0)

2090
W.-S. Li et al. / Bioorg. Med. Chem. 9 (2001) 2083–2091
Scheme 4.
Scheme 5.
reaction was monitored by UV and NMRspectroscopy.
The reaction was stopped by extracting the solution
with chloroform (3ꢃ60 mL), and the combined organic
layers were dried over Na2SO4, filtered, and con-
centrated in vacuo. The crude product was purified by
flash chromatography (30% EtOAc and 70% hexane)
to give 48 mg (91%) of SPSC-11 as a colorless liquid.
Chiral HPLC analysis of the enzymatically prepared
SPSC-isomer of compound 11 gave isomer ratios of
SPSC/SPRC/RPRC/RPSC of 98:2:0:0. (SPSC-11): 1H
NMR(300 MHz, CDCl 3) d 0.88 (s, 9H), 1.10 (d,
J=6.4 Hz, 3H), 1.63 (d, J=17.6 Hz, 3H), 4.33 (m, 1H),
7.34 (dd, J=1.1 and 9.4 Hz, 2H, protons at the 2- and 6-
positions of the p-nitrophenoxy moiety), 8.18 (d,
J=9.4 Hz, 2H, protons at the 3- and 5-positions of the
p-nitrophenoxy moiety); 13C NMR(75 MHz, CDCl ) d
3
11.8 (d, J[31P, 13C]=147.0 Hz), 16.9, 25.5, 34.9 (d, J[31P,
13C]=6.6 Hz), 82.7 (d, J[31P, 13C]=7.5 Hz), 121.0 (d,
J[31P, 13C]=4.5 Hz, C2/C6 position of the p-nitrophe-
noxy moiety), 125.5 (C3/C5 position of the p-nitrophe-
noxy moiety), 144.4, 155.6 (d, J[31P, 13C]=7.6 Hz, C1
position of the p-nitrophenoxy moiety). When the
I106A/F132A/H257Y mutant was used instead of
G60A, the RPSC-11 diastereomer was obtained in 61%
yield with isomer ratios of SPSC/SPRC/RPRC/
RPSC=8:0:0:92. (RPSC-11): 1H NMR(300 MHz,
CDCl3) d 0.82 (s, 9H), 1.28 (d, J=6.4 Hz, 3H), 1.64 (d,
J=17.6 Hz, 3H), 4.32 (m, 1H), 7.30 (dd, J=1.1 and
9.4 Hz, 2H, protons at the 2- and 6-positions of the p-
nitrophenoxy moiety), 8.16 (d, J=9.4 Hz, 2H, protons at

W.-S. Li et al. / Bioorg. Med. Chem. 9 (2001) 2083–2091
2091
the 3- and 5-positions of the p-nitrophenoxy moiety); 13
NMR(75 MHz, CDCl
12.7 (d, J[31P,
13C]=146.0 Hz), 16.9, 25.4, 34.8, 83.1 (d, J[31P,
13C]=8.1 Hz), 120.8 (d, J[31P, 13C]=5.0, C2/C6 position
of the p-nitrophenoxy moiety), 125.5 (C3/C5 position of
the p-nitrophenoxy moiety), 144.5, 155.9 (d, J[31P,
13C]=7.5 Hz, C1 position of the p-nitrophenoxy moiety).
C
2. Raushel, F. M.; Holden, H. M. Adv. Enzymol. 2000, 74, 51.
3. Omburo, G. A.; Kuo, J. M.; Mullins, L. M.; Raushel, F. M.
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H. M. Biochemistry 1995, 34, 7973.
6. Vanhooke, J. L.; Benning, M. M.; Raushel, F. M.; Holden,
H. M. Biochemistry 1996, 35, 6020.
)
d
3
Enzymatic resolution of SP/RP-O-RC-pinacolyl p-nitro-
phenyl methylphosphonate (11). The diastereomeric mix-
ture of SPRC-11 and RPRC-11 was resolved
enzymatically using the G60A and I106A/F132A/
H257Y mutants of PTE. The utilization of G60A affor-
ded the SPRC-11 diastereomer with an isolated chemical
yield of 84%. Chiral HPLC analysis of the enzymati-
cally prepared SPRC-isomer of compound 11 gave isomer
ratios of SPSC/SPRC/RPRC/RPSC of 8:92:0:0. The utiliza-
tion of the PTE mutant I106A/F132A/H257Y produced
RPRC-11 with an isolated yield of 72% yield and an iso-
mer ratio of SPSC/SPRC/RPRC/RPSC=4:0:90:6. Scheme 5
summarizes the synthetic strategy for the chemo-enzy-
matic synthesis of the four stereoisomers of compound
11. The toxicity of these compounds is unknown and thus
these compounds should be used with caution.
7. Jabri, E.; Carr, M. B.; Hausinger, R. P.; Karplus, P. A.
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15. Benning, M. M.; Hong, S. B.; Hong Raushel, F. M.;
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Acknowledgements
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The authors thank Dr. Joseph Reibenspies for solving
the X-ray structures of compounds SP-6 and RP-6. This
work was supported in part by the National Institute of
Health (GM-33894) and the Office of Naval Research
(N0014-99-0235). MAS heald a fellowship from Spanish
Ministry of Science.
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References and Notes
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