Title: Cholinesterases and the fine line between poison and remedy.

Authors: Pope, Carey N; Brimijoin, Stephen

Published In Biochem Pharmacol, (2018 Jul)

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.

PubMed ID: 29409903

MeSH Terms: Acetylcholinesterase/metabolism*; Alzheimer Disease/drug therapy; Alzheimer Disease/enzymology; Animals; Butyrylcholinesterase/metabolism*; Cholinergic Neurons/drug effects; Cholinergic Neurons/enzymology; Cholinesterase Inhibitors/pharmacology; Cholinesterase Inhibitors/therapeutic use; Cholinesterase Inhibitors/toxicity*; Humans; Poisoning/diagnosis; Poisoning/enzymology*