Target agent: VX

1. O CH CH CH CH CH CH CH CH CH CH CH CH CH O 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 P N S CH 3 H C 3 CH 3 VX O H C H C H C H C 3 3 3 3 O P F sarin CO Et 2 NO 2 CO Et 2 parathion Target agent: VX O N O acetylcholine Other chemical agents: O O O N P P F CN soman tabun Pesticides: S S O O P P O O O S malathion

2. O CH CH CH CH CH O 3 3 3 3 3 P N S CH 3 H C 3 CH 3 VX H C 3 Target agent: VX O N O acetylcholine Acetylcholinesterase

3. CH CH CH CH CH CH CH CH 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 O H C H C H C 3 3 3 O P F sarin CO Et 2 NO 2 CO Et 2 parathion Organophosphorus Compounds Other chemical agents: O O O N P P F CN soman tabun Pesticides: S S O O P P O O O S malathion

4. NH N N H 2 2 H NH NH NH 2 NH N 2 2 2 N H H Peptides that recognize VX Dr. Cyndi Wells, Dr. Ben Warner, Los Alamos Natl. Lab. NH2-Ser-GG-Arg-GG-His-GG-His-Phe NH2-Arg-GG-Ser-GG-His-GG-Ser-Phe NH2-Trp-GG-His-GG-His-GG-Trp-Phe NH2-Arg-GG-Tyr-GG-Arg-GG-Ser-Phe NH2-Tyr-GG-Trp-GG-Tyr-GG-Trp-Phe NH2-His-GG-His-GG-His-GG-Arg-Phe O O O O NH O N HO OH HO HO HO HO OH Ser Arg His Tyr Trp

5. Peptide: hydrophobic/hydrophilic, shape, size Metal: functional group discrimination H C 3 methylphosphonic acid thiophosphates from nerve agents from pesticides H O H C 2 H C 3 3 m ethylphosphonic e thanol m ercaptoamine acid Selectivity and Recognition:Peptide/metal receptors O O S OH OH OH P P P HO OH HO OH OH phosphates from soil differentiate by metal differentiate by peptide Degradation Products: O O HS N O OH P + + P + HO OH S N VX