Computational and spectrofluorimetric validation on glyphosate interactions with zebrafish (Danio rerio) acetylcholinesterase: Mechanistic and ecotoxicological implications

This study explores the toxicodynamics of glyphosate in zebrafish (Danio rerio) acetylcholinesterase (zf-AChE) using a combined computational and experimental approach to reveal its potential cholinergic neurotoxic effects. Computational modeling suggested that glyphosate could block critical amino...

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Bibliographic Details
Authors: Lopes, Andressa Rubim, González-Durruthy, Michael, Cordeiro, M. Natália D. S., Moura, Ana S., Rial Silva, Ramón, Ruso Beiras, Juan Manuel, Sandrini, Juliana Zomer, Rosa, Carlos Eduardo da, Martins, Camila de Martinez Gaspar
Format: article
Publication Date:2025
Country:España
Institution:Universidad de Santiago de Compostela (USC)
Repository:Minerva. Repositorio Institucional de la Universidad de Santiago de Compostela
Language:English
OAI Identifier:oai:minerva.usc.gal:10347/44136
Online Access:https://hdl.handle.net/10347/44136
Access Level:Open access
Keyword:Glyphosate
Danio rerio
Acetylcholinesterase
Molecular docking
Spectrofluorimetric methods
Description
Summary:This study explores the toxicodynamics of glyphosate in zebrafish (Danio rerio) acetylcholinesterase (zf-AChE) using a combined computational and experimental approach to reveal its potential cholinergic neurotoxic effects. Computational modeling suggested that glyphosate could block critical amino acid residues in the zf-AChE binding site, disrupting acetylcholine positioning and potentially leading to its pathological accumulation in cholinergic synapses. Additionally, glyphosate may adversely impact zf-AChE's flexibility, inducing conformational rigidity via hydrophobic van der Waals and hydrogen-bond interactions. These effects mirrored the binding behavior of physostigmine, a known specific zf-AChE inhibitor. Interestingly, the structural similarity between zf-AChE and human AChE (hs-AChE) suggests potential neurotoxicity in humans. Spectrofluorimetry confirmed binding between glyphosate and hs-AChE, resembling physostigmine binding. To sum up, our findings provide insights into glyphosate-induced cholinergic neurotoxicity in zebrafish, supporting extrapolations to humans and contributing valuable insights for ecotoxicology, new approach methodologies, and environmental risk assessment.