Citation

Pope CN, Brimijoin S. Biochem. Pharmacol. 2018; 153: 205-216.

Affiliation

Department of Molecular Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN 55902, United States.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2018, Elsevier Publishing)

DOI

10.1016/j.bcp.2018.01.044

PMID

29409903

Abstract

Acetylcholinesterase (AChE, EC 3.1.1.7) and butyrylcholinesterase (BChE, EC 3.1.1.8) are related enzymes found across the animal kingdom. The critical role of acetylcholinesterase in neurotransmission has been known for almost a century, but a physiological role for butyrylcholinesterase is just now emerging. The cholinesterases have been deliberately targeted for both therapy and toxicity, with cholinesterase inhibitors being used in the clinic for a variety of disorders and conversely for their toxic potential as pesticides and chemical weapons. Non-catalytic functions of the cholinesterases (ChEs) participate in both neurodevelopment and disease. Manipulating either the catalytic activities or the structure of these enzymes can potentially shift the balance between beneficial and adverse effect in a wide number of physiological processes.

Copyright © 2018. Published by Elsevier Inc.

Language: en

Keywords

Acetylcholinesterase; Alzheimer’s; Butyrylcholinesterase; Cholinergic signaling; Cholinesterase inhibitors; Ghrelin metabolism; Organophosphates