VE (''S''-(Diethylamino)ethyl ''O''-ethyl ethylphosphonothioate) is a "V-series"

nerve agent Nerve agents, sometimes also called nerve gases, are a class of organic chemicals that disrupt the mechanisms by which nerves transfer messages to organs. The disruption is caused by the blocking of acetylcholinesterase (AChE), an enzyme that ...

closely related to the better-known

VX nerve agent VX is an extremely toxic synthetic chemical compound in the organophosphorus class, specifically, a thiophosphonate. In the class of nerve agents, it was developed for military use in chemical warfare after translation of earlier discoverie ...

. Like most of the agents in the V-series (with the exception of VX), VE has not been extensively studied outside of military science. Little is known about this compound other than its chemical formula. It is commonly theorized that the so-called "second-generation" V series agents came from a cold war era

Russia Russia (, , ), or the Russian Federation, is a transcontinental country spanning Eastern Europe and Northern Asia. It is the largest country in the world, with its internationally recognised territory covering , and encompassing one-eig ...

n chemical weapons development program. They may have been developed sometime between 1950 and 1990. They have similar lethal dose levels to VX (between 10–50 mg) and have similar symptoms and method of action to other nerve agents that act on

cholinesterase The enzyme cholinesterase (EC 3.1.1.8, choline esterase; systematic name acylcholine acylhydrolase) catalyses the hydrolysis of choline-based esters: : an acylcholine + H2O = choline + a carboxylate Several of these serve as neurotransmitters ...

, and treatment remains the same, but the window for effectively treating second generation V series

seizure An epileptic seizure, informally known as a seizure, is a period of symptoms due to abnormally excessive or synchronous neuronal activity in the brain. Outward effects vary from uncontrolled shaking movements involving much of the body with l ...

s is shorter. In addition to the standard seizures, some of the second generation V series agents are known to cause comas.

References

{{Acetylcholine metabolism and transport modulators Acetylcholinesterase inhibitors Diethylamino compounds V-series nerve agents Phosphonothioates Ethyl esters