Inactivation of acetylcholinesterase with a bretylium tosylate photoaffinity probe

Inactivation of acetylcholinesterase by 1-methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine hydrochloride

The neurotoxicant 1-methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine (MPTP) has been shown to reversibly inhibit the activity of acetylcholinesterase. The inactivation of the enzyme was detected by monitoring the accumulation of yellow color produced from the reaction between thiocholine and dithiobisnitrobenzoate ion. The kinetic parameter, Km for the substrate (acetylthiocholine), was found to be 0.216 mM and Ki for MPTP inactivation of acetylcholinesterase was found to be 2.14 mM. The inactivation of enzyme by MPTP was found to be dose-dependent. It was found that MPTP is neither a substrate of AChE nor the time-dependent inactivator. The studies of reaction kinetics indicate the inactivation of AChE to be a linear mixed-type inhibition. The dilution assays indicate that MPTP is a reversible inhibitor for AChE. These data suggest that once MPTP enters the basal ganglia of the brain, it can inactivate the acetylcholinesterase enzyme and thereby increase the acetylcholine level in the basal ganglia of brain, leading to potential cell dysfunction. It appears that the nigrostriatal toxicity by MPTP leading to Parkinson's disease-like syndrome may, in part, be mediated via the acetylcholinesterase inactivation.

Acetylcholinesterase inhibition by 1-methyl-4-phenylpyridinium ion, a bioactivated metabolite of MPTP

The effect of the neurotoxicant, 1-methyl-4-phenylpyridinium ion (MPP+) on acetylcholinesterase (AchE) activity was investigated. The MPP+ was found to inactivate the enzyme in a dose dependent manner. The kinetic parameter, Km for the substrate (acetylthiocholine), was found to be 0.216 mM and Ki for MPP+ for the inactivation of AChE was found to be 0.197 mM. It was found that MPP+ is neither a substrate of AChE nor the time-dependent inactivator. The studies of reaction kinetics indicate the inactivation of AChE to be a linear mixed-type inhibition. The inactivation of AChE by MPP+ was partially recovered by either dilution or gel exclusion chromatography. These data suggest that once MPP+ enters the basal ganglia of the brain, it can inactivate the AChE and thereby increase the acetylcholine level in the basal ganglia, leading to potential cell dysfunction. It appears likely that the nigrostriatal toxicity by MPP+ leading to Parkinson's disease-like syndrome may, in part, be mediated via the AChE inactivation.