# Crosslinking Action of Chlorpyrifos Oxon as Mechanism of Chronic Illness

> **NIH NIH R21** · UNIVERSITY OF NEBRASKA MEDICAL CENTER · 2021 · $228,750

## Abstract

Background: Exposure to the organophosphorus pesticide, chlorpyrifos, can have
chronic adverse effects that are not explained by inhibition of acetylcholinesterase.
Goal: The long-term objective is to establish a mechanism to explain neurotoxicity from
chronic low dose exposure to organophosphorus pesticides. Hypothesis: The hypothesis developed in this proposal is based on our mass spectrometry observations which show that proteins treated with chlorpyrifos oxon make
covalent adducts on lysine and some of these adducts undergo a crosslinking reaction
with glutamic or aspartic acid side chains to form isopeptide bonds. The crosslinked
proteins are visualized as high molecular weight aggregates on polyacrylamide gels.
The scientific literature links protein aggregates to neurodegeneration by proposing that
protein aggregates inhibit axonal transport. The consequence is slow loss of neuronal
spine density, loss of connections between neurons, and clinical symptoms.
Method: This proposal aims to establish the steps that initiate neurotoxicity. The plan is
to use liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry to show that crosslinked
proteins correlate with loss of function. The functional test is inhibition of neurite
outgrowth in cultured cells. The rate of formation and clearance of crosslinked proteins
will be measured. Outcome: Mass spectrometry analysis is expected to identify crosslinks between
neuronal cytoskeleton proteins in human neuroblastoma cells treated with chlorpyrifos
oxon. The presence of crosslinked proteins is expected to correlate with inhibition of
neurite outgrowth, thus showing a relationship between crosslinking and loss of
function. Measurement of the rates of formation and clearance of crosslinked proteins
is expected to support a mechanism where misfolded, crosslinked proteins accumulate
in neurons. The consequence of accumulated crosslinked proteins is neurotoxicity.
Innovation: We are the first to report that organophosphorus toxicants are crosslinking
agents. Significance: The proposed work is expected to provide a mechanism to explain
neurotoxicity from chronic low dose exposure to organophosphorus pesticides. Future
studies may build on this work to understand neurotoxicity following exposure to a
variety of chemicals.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10079484
- **Project number:** 5R21ES030132-02
- **Recipient organization:** UNIVERSITY OF NEBRASKA MEDICAL CENTER
- **Principal Investigator:** OKSANA LOCKRIDGE
- **Activity code:** R21 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2021
- **Award amount:** $228,750
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2020-01-06 → 2022-06-30

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10079484

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10079484, Crosslinking Action of Chlorpyrifos Oxon as Mechanism of Chronic Illness (5R21ES030132-02). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-23 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10079484. Licensed CC0.

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