Direct Quantitation of Methyl Phosphonate Adducts to Human Serum Butyrylcholinesterase by Immunomagnetic-UHPLC-MS/MS

Hydrolysis of G- and V-series organophosphorus nerve agents (OPNAs) containing a phosphorus–methyl bond yields a methylphosphonic acid (MeP) product when adducted to human butyrylcholinesterase (BChE). The MeP adduct is considered a sign of “aging” and results in loss of the o-alkyl identifier specific to each nerve agent. After aging has occurred, common therapeutics such as oximes cannot reactivate the cholinesterase enzyme and relieve cholinergic inhibition. Until now, a direct, quantitative method for determination of the MeP adduct to BChE was unavailable. Aged adducts in serum samples were processed by immunomagnetic separation of BChE by antibody conjugated bead, isotope-dilution, pepsin digestion, followed by UHPLC separation and detection by conventional electrospray ionization–tandem mass spectrometry (ESI-MS/MS). Ions were detected in selected reaction monitoring (SRM) mode, and transition m/z 874.3 → 778.3 was used for quantitation. The analytical response ratio was linearly proportional to the serum concentration of MeP-adducted peptide (MeP-P) over the nominal concentration range of 2.0–250 ng/mL, with a coefficient of determination of R 2 ≥ 0.997. Intrarun accuracy, expressed as %Relative Error (%RE), was ≤13.5%, 16.3%, and 3.20% at 2.0, 16, and 250 ng/mL, respectively; the corresponding precision expressed as %RSD was ≤11.9%, 6.15%, and 3.39%. Interday %RSD was ≤7.13%, 5.69%, and 1.91%. Recovery of MeP-P from serum was ≥68% across the validated concentration range, and contributions from matrix effects were minimal. The method provides a direct, quantitative measurement of MeP-P found in clinical samples suspected of nerve agent exposure and subjected to such post-sampling stresses as elevated temperature and extended shipping.