Cholinergic system and cell proliferation

The cholinergic system, comprising acetylcholine, the proteins responsible for acetylcholine synthesis and release, acetylcholine receptors and cholinesterases, is expressed by most human cell types. Acetylcholine is a neurotransmitter, but also a local signalling molecule which regulates basic cell functions, and cholinergic responses are involved in cell proliferation and apoptosis. So, activation of nicotinic and muscarinic receptors has a proliferative and anti-apoptotic effect in many cells. The content of choline acetyltransferase, acetylcholine receptors and cholinesterases is altered in many tumours, and cholinesterase content correlates with patient survival in some cancers. During apoptosis, acetylcholinesterase is induced and appears in the nuclei. Acetylcholinesterase participates in the regulation of cell proliferation and apoptosis through hydrolysis of acetylcholine and by other catalytic and non catalytic mechanisms, in a variant-specific manner. This review gathers information on the role of cholinergic system and specially acetylcholinesterase in cell proliferation and apoptosis.

The AChE membrane-binding tail PRiMA is down-regulated in muscle and nerve of mice with muscular dystrophy by merosin deficiency

Since Duchenne muscular dystrophy was attributed to mutations in the dystrophin gene, more than 30 genes have been found to be causally related with muscular dystrophies, about half of them encoding proteins of the dystrophin-glycoprotein complex (DGC). Through laminin-2, the DGC bridges the muscle cytoskeleton and the extracellular matrix. Decreased levels of PRiMA-linked acetylcholinesterase (AChE) and butyrylcholinesterase (BuChE) have been observed in dystrophic muscle and nerve of dystrophin-deficient (mdx) and laminin-2 deficient (Lama2dy) mice. To help explain these observations, the relative content of AChE, BuChE and PRiMA mRNAs were compared in normal and Lama2dy mouse muscle and sciatic nerve. The 17-fold lower level of PRiMA mRNA in Lama2dy muscle explained the deficit in PRiMA-linked ChEs. This would increase acetylcholine availability and, eventually, the desensitization of nicotinic receptors. Abnormal development of the Schwann cells led to peripheral neuropathy in the Lama2dy mouse. Compared with normal nerve, dystrophic nerve displayed 4-fold less AChE-T mRNA, 3-fold more BuChE mRNA and 2.5-fold less PRiMA mRNA, which agreed with the lower AChE activity in dystrophic nerve, its increased BuChE activity and the specific drop in PRiMA-linked BuChE. The widely accepted role of glial cells as the source of BuChE, the observed dysmyelination of Lama2dy nerve and its increased BuChE activity support the idea that BuChE up-regulation is related with the aberrant differentiation of the Schwann cells.

Targeting of acetylcholinesterase to lipid rafts of muscle

Despite the great progress made in setting the basis for the molecular diversity of acetylcholinesterase (AChE), an explanation for the existence of two types of amphiphilic subunits, with and without glicosylphosphatidylinositol (GPI) (Types I and II), has not been provided yet. In searching whether, as for the deficiency of dystrophin, that of merosin (laminin-alpha2 chain) alters the number of caveolae in muscle, a high increase in caveolin-3 (Cav3) was observed in the Triton X-100-resistant membranes (TRM) isolated from muscle of merosin-deficient dystrophic mice (Lama2dy). The rise in Cav3 was accompanied by that of non-caveolar lipid rafts, as showed by the greater ecto-5'-nucleotidase (eNT) activity, a marker of non-caveolar rafts, in TRM of dystrophic muscle. The observation of AChE activity in TRM, the increased levels of rafts and raft-bound AChE activity in merosin-deficient muscle and the presence of phospholipase C-sensitive AChE dimers in TRM supported targeting of glypiated AChE to rafts. This issue and the involvement of TRM in conveying nicotinic receptors to the neuromuscular junction and particular muscarinic receptors to cardiac sarcolemma strongly support a role for lipid rafts in targeting ACh receptors and glypiated AChE. Their nearby location in the surface membrane may provide cells with a fine tuning for regulating cholinergic responses.

The level of aryl acylamidase activity displayed by human butyrylcholinesterase depends on its molecular distribution

Butyrylcholinesterase (BuChE) and acetylcholinesterase (AChE) display both esterase and aryl acylamidase (AAA) activities. Their AAA activity can be measured using o-nitroacetanilide (ONA). In human samples depleted of acetylcholinesterase, we noticed that the ratio of amidase to esterase activities varied depending on the source, despite both activities being due to BuChE. Searching for an explanation, we compared the activities of BuChE molecular forms in samples of human colon, kidney and serum, and observed that BuChE monomers (G(1)) hydrolyzed o-nitroacetanilide much faster than tetramers (G(4)). This fact suggested that association might cause differences in the AAA site between single and polymerized subunits. This and other post-translational modifications in BuChE subunits probably determine their level of AAA activity. The higher amidase activity of monomers could justify the presence of single BuChE subunits in cells as a way to preserve the AAA activity of BuChE, which could be lost by oligomerization.

Cholinesterases are down-expressed in human colorectal carcinoma

The aberrations of cholinesterase (ChE) genes and the variation of ChE activity in cancerous tissues prompted us to investigate the expression of ChEs in colorectal carcinoma. The study of 55 paired specimens of healthy (HG) and cancerous gut (CG) showed that acetylcholinesterase (AChE) activity fell by 32% and butyrylcholinesterase (BuChE) activity by 58% in CG. Abundant AChE-H, fewer AChE-T, and even fewer AChE-R and BuChE mRNAs were observed in HG, and their content was greatly diminished in CG. The high level of the AChE-H mRNA explains the abundance of AChE-H subunits in HG, which as glycosylphosphatidylinositol (GPI)-anchored amphiphilic AChE dimers (G2(A)) and monomers (G1(A)) account for 69% of AChE activity. The identification of AChE-T and BuChE mRNAs justifies the occurrence in gut of A12, G4(H) and PRiMA-containing G4(A) AChE forms, besides G4(H), G4(A) and G1(H) BuChE. The down-regulation of ChEs might contribute to gut carcinogenesis by increasing acetylcholine availability and over-stimulating muscarinic receptors.

Muscular dystrophy with laminin deficiency decreases acetylcholinesterase activity in thymus of dystrophic Lama2dy mice

We have studied the effect of muscular dystrophy by merosin deficiency on mouse thymus acetyl- (AChE) and butyrylcholinesterase (BuChE). The organ contains AChE and BuChE activities. Merosin deficiency causes an important decrease (46%) in AChE specific activity. Thymus produces dimers, monomers and tetramers of AChE, and the three kinds of AChE mRNAs. The drop in AChE activity in dystrophic animals could affect the amount of ACh reaching cholinergic receptors in cells of lymphoid organs.

Identification of hybrid cholinesterase forms consisting of acetyl- and butyrylcholinesterase subunits in human glioma

Brain and non-brain tumors contain acetylcholinesterase (AChE) and butyrylcholinesterase (BuChE) transcripts and enzyme activity. AChE and BuChE occur in tissues as a set of molecular components, whose distribution in a cyst fluid from a human astrocytoma we investigated. The fluid displayed high BuChE and low AChE activities. Three types of cholinesterase (ChE) tetramers were identified in the fluid by means of sedimentation analyses and assays with specific inhibitors, and their sedimentation coefficients were 11.7S (ChE-I), 11.1S (ChE-II), and 10.5S (ChE-III). ChE-I was unretained, ChE-II was weakly retained and ChE-III was adsorbed to edrophonium-agarose, confirming the AChE nature of the latter. ChE-I and ChE-II tetramers contained BuChE subunits as shown by their binding with an antiserum against BuChE. The ChE activity of the immunocomplexes made with ChE-II and anti-BuChE antibodies decreased with the AChE inhibitor BW284c51, revealing that ChE-II was made of AChE and BuChE subunits, in contrast to ChE-I, which only contained BuChE subunits. The binding of an anti-AChE antibody (AE1) to ChE-II and ChE-III, but not to ChE-I, demonstrated the hybrid composition of ChE-II. A substantial fraction of the AChE tetramers and dimers of astrocytomas and oligodendrogliomas bound both to anti-AChE and anti-BuChE antibodies, which revealed a mixed composition of AChE and BuChE subunits in them. The AChE components of brain, meningiomas and neurinomas were only recognized by AE1. In conclusion, our results demonstrate that aberrant ChE oligomers consisting of AChE and BuChE subunits are generated in astrocytomatous cyst and gliomas but not in brain, meningiomas or neurinomas.

Identification of inactive ecto-5'-nucleotidase in normal mouse muscle and its increased activity in dystrophic Lama2(dy) mice

Ecto-5'-nucleotidase (eNT) activity and protein in normal (NM) and merosin-deficient dystrophic (DM) Lama2(dy) mice muscle were studied. eNT activity in DM was three- to four-fold that in NM. eNT in NM and DM displayed the same kinetic properties. Slot and Western blotting revealed that the immunoreactive protein was two to three times more abundant in control muscle, when NM and DM samples with the same eNT activity were compared, indicating that mouse muscle contains catalytically inactive eNT components. eNT activity and protein peaks coincided in sedimentation analyses, revealing that inactive eNT occurs as dimers. Most eNT activity and protein of NM bound to Lens culinaris (LCA) or Ricinus communis (RCA) agglutinins, but half of the activity and one-third of the protein bound to wheat germ agglutinin (WGA). Although WGA interaction did not permit full separation of inactive eNT, the results suggest that similar proportions of active species with and without WGA reactivity occur in mouse muscle, whereas a great fraction of the inactive eNT variants lack WGA reactivity. Because the level of eNT protein was little modified in DM, the higher eNT activity in dystrophic than in control muscle may result from misregulation in the synthesis of active and inactive eNT species or from conversion of inactive into active components.

The ecto-5'-nucleotidase subunits in dimers are not linked by disulfide bridges but by non-covalent bonds

It has long been considered that ecto-5'-nucleotidase (eNT) dimers consist of subunits linked by disulfide bonds. Hydrophilic (6.7S) and amphiphilic (4.0S) dimers were separated by sedimentation analysis of eNT purified from bull seminal plasma. Hydrophilic (4. 2S) and amphiphilic (2.6S) eNT monomers were obtained after reduction of disulfide bonds in dimers. The amphiphilic eNT dimers or monomers were converted into their hydrophilic variants with phosphatidylinositol-specific phospholipase C. SDS-PAGE plus Western blot showed 68 kDa subunits, regardless of the addition of beta-mercaptoethanol to the SDS mixture. Active eNT monomers were obtained by addition of 1 M guanidinium chloride (Gdn) to dimers, and unfolded subunits by addition of 4 M Gdn. The results unambiguously demonstrate that the subunits in eNT dimers are not linked by disulfide bridges, but by non-covalent bonds, and that dissociation precedes inactivation and unfolding.

Biochemical properties of 5'-nucleotidase from mouse skeletal muscle

Ecto-5'-nucleotidase (eNT) from mouse muscle has been purified after extraction with detergent followed by chromatography on concanavalin A- and AMP-Sepharose. Three fractions were recovered: UF was NT non-retained in immobilised AMP; F-I was bound enzyme eluted with beta-glycerophosphate, and F-II was bound NT released with AMP. eNT was 80000-fold purified in F-II, this fraction showing proteins of 74, 68 and 51 kDa after immunoblotting. NT in UF migrated at 6.7S after centrifugation in sucrose gradients with Triton X-100, the peak being split into two of 6.7S and 4.4S in gradients with Brij 96. Ecto-NT in F-I or F-II migrated at 5.8S in Triton X-100-, or 4.4S in Brij 96-containing gradients. The hydrodynamic behaviour, concentration in Triton X-114, binding to phenyl-agarose, and sensitivity to phosphatidylinositol-specific phospholipase C revealed that enzyme forms in F-I or F-II were amphiphilic dimers with linked phosphatidylinositol residues, whilst most of NT forms in UF were hydrophilic dimers. A zinc/protein molar ratio of 2.2 was determined for eNT in F-II. NT activity was decreased in assays made in imidazole buffer, and was partly restored with 10 microM Zn2+ or 100 microM Mn2+. In assays with Tris buffer, NT showed a Km for AMP of 12 microM, and was competitively inhibited by ATP or ADP.

Conversion of acetylcholinesterase hydrophilic tetramers into amphiphilic dimers and monomers

Exposure of purified hydrophilic tetramers of acetylcholinesterase (AChE) from fetal bovine serum to various guanidinium chloride (Gdn) concentrations led to inactive tetramers (2 M Gdn) and dimers (6 M Gdn). The native tetramers were almost fully monomerized by reduction, a minor fraction of the released monomers remaining active. Sedimentation analysis and hydrophobic chromatography showed that the modified tetramers, dimers and monomers had amphiphilic properties. Intrinsic fluorescence spectra and binding of the amphiphilic probe, 1-anilino-8-naphthalene sulfonate (ANS), revealed that AchE subunit in the modified tetramers were in a 'molten globule' structure, the dimers in a denatured stated, and the inactive monomers in a 'native-like' structure. These data show that AChE subunits possess a flexible conformation, which may be important for generating a full set of molecular forms. In addition, the behavior of the active monomers with amphiphiles may explain the interactions of type II AChE forms with membranes.

Effect of the pyrethroid insecticide allethrin on membrane fluidity

Allethrin is a widely used pyrethroid insecticide with an alkenylmethylcyclopentenolone group in its structure. We have analyzed its interaction with model and native membranes using DPH and its polar derivative TMA-DPH fluorescence polarization. Allethrin modified the bilayer order in the temperature range of the phase transition when incorporated into liposomes made with dimyristoyl-(DMPC), dipalmitoyl-(DPPC) and distearoyl-(DSPC) phosphatidylcholine. In DMPC: allethrin mixtures the pyrethroid decreased the bilayer order in the gel phase, without altering the liquid-crystalline one. In native membranes, DPH and TMA-DPH fluorescence polarization remained unchanged after incubation with allethrin. The release of hemoglobin was notably facilitated by the incorporation of allethrin into human erythrocytes. The results are discussed in terms of a possible aggregation of the insecticide in the lipid bilayer to create special domains with a consequent increase in membrane instability.

Interactions of the pyrethroid insecticide allethrin with liposomes

The action of allethrin, a pyrethroid with an alkenylmethylcyclopentenolone group, on the thermotropic properties of lipid vesicles has been investigated. Application of turbidimetry and differential scanning calorimetry to liposomes made with dimyristoyl- (DMPC), dipalmitoyl- (DPPC), and distearoyl- (DSPC) phosphatidycholine, containing variable concentrations of allethrin, showed that the pyrethroid lowers the temperature at which the phase transition of the phospholipid occurs. Furthermore, allethrin produces a broadening of the peak which marks the gel to liquid-crystalline phase transition. The appearance of a second peak as the allethrin concentration in the membranes rises indicates a limited miscibility of the pyrethroid in lipids. Incorporation of allethrin in carboxyfluorescein-trapped unilamellar liposomes, followed by incubation at several temperatures, enhances carboxyfluorescein release in allethrin-containing vesicles. The results are discussed in terms of a preferential localization of allethrin in an extended orientation in the bilayer with the carbonyl group of the alkenylmethylcyclopentenolone residue in the lipid water interface and the cyclopropanecarboxylate moiety between the hydrocarbon acyl chain of the phospholipids.

Amphiphilic and hydrophilic forms of acetyl- and butyrylcholinesterase in human brain

Human brain acetylcholinesterase (AChE) and butyrylcholinesterase (BuChE) were sequentially extracted, first with a Tris-saline buffer (S1) and then with 1% (w/v) Triton X-100 (S2). About 20 and 30% of the AChE and BuChE activities were recovered in S1 and most of the remaining enzymes in S2. Main molecular forms of about 10.5 S and 12.0 S, G4 forms of AChE and BuChE, and smaller amounts of 4.5 S and 5.5 S forms, G1 species of AChE and BuChE, were measured in S1. Application of Triton X-114 phase partitioning and affinity chromatography on phenyl-agarose to S1 revealed that 25% of the AChE and none of the BuChE molecules displayed amphiphilic properties. Analysis of the enzyme activity retained by the phenyl-agarose showed that G1 AChE constituted the bulk of the amphiphilic molecules released without detergent. Main G4 forms of AChE and BuChE were found in the S2 extract. Eighty and 45% of the AChE and BuChE activities in S2 were measured in the detergent-rich phase by Triton X-114 phase partitioning. Thus, most of the AChE and about half of the BuChE molecules in S2 displayed amphiphilic properties. The main peak of BuChE, a 12.0 S form in gradients made with Triton X-100, splits into two peaks of 9.5 S and 12.5 S in Brij 96-containing gradients. This suggests that hydrophilic G4 BuChE forms are predominant in S1 and that hydrophilic and amphiphilic isoforms coexist in S2.

Alkaline treatment of muscle microsomes releases amphiphilic and hydrophilic forms of acetylcholinesterase

To obtain information about the mode of attachment of amphiphilic monomers of acetylcholinesterase (AChE) in sarcoplasmic reticulum (SR) of skeletal muscle, attempts were made to release the enzyme by alkaline hydroxylamine. About half of the activity measured in microsomes preincubated with 0.5% (w/v) Triton X-100 is detached by incubation of SR with bicarbonate buffer (pH 10.5). Addition of 1 M hydroxylamine to the alkaline buffer did not improve enzyme solubilization. Molecular forms of 16S (A12), 10.5S (G4) and 4.0S (G1) are separated by sedimentation analyses of Triton X-100 or bicarbonate-solubilized AChE. Monomeric AChE, released under alkaline conditions (G1A), displays amphiphilic properties. G1A, but not G4 and A12, forms are retained in a phenyl-Sepharose column and this allows its separation from hydrophilic forms. Isolated monomers extracted with Triton X-100 (G1D) or alkaline buffer showed identical kinetic behaviour. The two forms reacted with lectins in a similar manner. However, thermal inactivation experiments revealed that about 90 and 40% of the activity in the G1D and G1A forms were lost by heating at 50 degrees C, following the same rate constant (k = 0.130 min-1). Addition of Triton X-100 to the G1A form leads to an increase of its thermal sensitivity, the enzyme being fully inactivated very rapidly (k = 0.230 min-1). The results suggest that the hydrophobic moiety of the enzyme might be exposed or hidden depending on the environmental hydrophobicity. Changes in the composition of the solvent will determine the final conformational state of the protein.

Acetylcholinesterase is orientated facing the cytoplasmic side in membranes derived from sarcoplasmic reticulum

(1) Microsomal membranes from white rabbit muscle enriched in sarcoplasmic reticulum (SR) were used to investigate the preferential localization of acetylcholinesterase (AChE) in these membranes. (2) Integrity and orientation of the vesicles was assessed by measuring the inulin-inaccessible space of the vesicles and its calcium-loading capacity. (3) Treatment of the membranes with diisopropyl phosphorofluoridate (DFP), an irreversible inhibitor which is free soluble in lipid, produced an almost complete inactivation of AChE. The inhibition was prevented in assays performed with the non-permeant reversible inhibitor BW 284c51 (BW). (4) Similar results were obtained if echothiophate iodide (ECHO), an irreversible and poorly permeant inhibitor, instead of DFP was used. (5) Sedimentation profiles of enzyme solubilized with Triton X-100 from membranes inhibited by DFP after protection with BW showed a minor reduction in the relative proportion of a 4.5 S (G1) form. (6) Treatment of intact or saponin-permeabilized membranes with concanavalin A (ConA) produced enzyme-lectin complexes. In both cases, most of the enzyme was recovered in the sedimented complexes after centrifugation of the Triton-solubilized membranes. (7) Incubation of intact membranes with the antibody AE1 led to the formation of immuno complexes. Sedimentation analyses of the molecular forms of AChE revealed a shift in the sedimentation coefficients, whether the antibody was added before or after solubilization of the enzyme. (8) These results firmly establish an external localization of AChE in SR, most of the protein backbone facing the cytoplasmic side of the membrane.

Amphiphilic and hydrophilic molecular forms of acetylcholinesterase in membranes derived from sarcoplasmic reticulum of skeletal muscle

Native molecular forms of acetylcholinesterase (AChE) present in a microsomal fraction enriched in SR of rabbit skeletal muscle were characterized by sedimentation analysis in sucrose gradients and by digestion with phospholipases and proteinases. The hydrophobic properties of AChE forms were studied by phase-partition of Triton X-114 and Triton X-100-solubilized enzyme and by comparing their migration in sucrose gradient containing either Triton X-100 or Brij 96. We found that in the microsomal preparation two hydrophilic 13.5 S and 10.5 S forms and an amphiphilic 4.5 S form exist. The 13.5 S is an asymmetric molecule which by incubation with collagenase and trypsin is converted into a 'lytic' 10.5 S form. The hydrophobic 4.5 S form is the predominant one in extracts prepared with Triton X-100. Proteolytic digestion of the membranes with trypsin brought into solution a significant portion of the total activity. Incubation of the membranes with phospholipase C failed to solubilize the enzyme. The sedimentation coefficient of the amphiphilic 4.5 S form remained unchanged after partial reduction, thus confirming its monomeric structure. Conversion of the monomeric amphiphilic form into a monomeric hydrophilic molecule was performed by incubating the 4.5 S AChE with trypsin. This conversion was not produced by phospholipase treatment.

Proteolytic stimulation and solubilization of membrane-bound acetylcholinesterase from muscle sarcotubular system

Incubation of membranes derived from sarcotubular system of rabbit skeletal muscle with increasing concentrations of Triton X-100 produced both stimulation of the AChE activity and solubilization of this enzyme. Mild proteolytic treatment of microsomal membranes produced a several fold activation of the still membrane-bound acetylcholinesterase (AChE) activity. Attempts were made to solubilize AChE from microsomal membranes by proteolytic treatment. About 30-40% of the total enzyme activity could be solubilized by means of trypsin or papain. Short trypsin treatment of the microsomal membranes produced first an activation of the membrane-bound enzyme followed by solubilization. Incubation of muscle microsomes for a short time with papain yielded a significant portion of soluble enzyme. Membrane-bound enzyme activation was measured after a prolonged incubation period. These results are compared with those of solubilization obtained by treatment of membranes with progressive concentrations of Triton X-100. The occurrence of molecular forms in protease-solubilized AChE was investigated by means of centrifugation analysis and slab gel electrophoresis. Centrifugation on sucrose gradients revealed two main components of 4.4S and 10-11S in either trypsin or papain-solubilized AChE. These components behaved as hydrophilic species whereas the Triton solubilized AChE showed an amphipatic character. Application of slab gel electrophoresis showed the occurrence of forms with molecular weights of 350,000; 175,000; 165,000; 85,000 and 76,000. The stimulation of membrane-bound AChE by detergents or proteases would indicate that most of the enzyme molecules or their active sites are sequestered into the lipid bilayer through lipid-protein or protein-protein interactions and these are broken by proteolytic digestion of the muscle microsomes.

Solubilization and partial characterization of acetylcholinesterase from the sarcotubular system of skeletal muscle

Attempts were made to solubilize acetylcholinesterase (AChE) from microsomal membranes isolated from rabbit white muscle. The preparative procedure included a step in which the microsomes were incubated in a solution containing high salt concentration (0.6 M KCl). About 15% of the total enzyme activity could be solubilized with dilute buffer. Addition of EDTA (1 mM), EGTA (1 mM) or NaCl (0.5 and 1 M) to the extraction buffer did not improve the solubilization yield. Several non-ionic detergents and biliary salts were then used to bring the enzyme into solution. Triton X-100, C12E9 (dodecylnonaethylenglycol monoether) and biliary salt, above their critical micellar concentration, proved to be very effective as solubilizing agents. The occurrence of multiple molecular forms in detergent-soluble AChE was investigated by means of molecular sieving, centrifugation analysis, and slab gel electrophoresis. Experiments on gel filtration showed that, during the process, half of the enzyme was transformed into aggregates, the rest of the activity appearing as peaks with Stokes radii ranging from 3.7 to 7.9 nm. Both ionic strength and detergent nature modify the number and relative proportion of these peaks. Centrifugation analysis of Triton-saline-soluble AChE yielded molecular forms of 4.8S, 10-11S, and 13.5S, whereas deoxycholate extracts revealed species of 4.8S, 10S, and 15S, providing that gradients were prepared with 0.5 M NaCl. In the absence of salt, forms of 6.5-7.5S, 10S, and 15S were measured. The lightest species was always the predominant form. Slab gel electrophoresis showed several bands (68,000-445,000). The 4.8S component only yielded bands of 65,000-70,000.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Kinetic behaviour of acetylcholinesterase from muscle microsomal membranes

In order to determine whether catalytic hydrolysis of acetylcholine, observed in muscle microsomes enriched in sarcoplasmic reticulum membranes, was carried out by true acetylcholinesterase we studied the substrate specificity of this enzyme, its kinetic behaviour and its sensitivity against several reversible inhibitors. The results showed that the enzyme from muscle microsomes had acetylcholine (or acetylthiocholine) as the preferent substrate and was also able to hydrolyze acetyl-beta-methylcholine. The enzyme had a Km of 100-120 microM, being inhibited by a high substrate concentration. Acetylcholinesterase in this source was competitively inhibited by BW-284-c-51, eserine and decamethonium with ki values of 0.025 microM, 0.021 microM and 65 microM, respectively. The enzyme was poorly inhibited by the pseudocholinesterase inhibitor ethopropazine. The results show that the hydrolytic enzyme is indeed acetylcholinesterase.

Thermal stability of molecular forms of acetylcholinesterase from muscle microsomes

To establish if the predominant form of acetylcholinesterase in muscle microsomes (4.8S) corresponded to the monomeric or dimeric form of the enzyme we studied the sensitivity to heating of Triton X-100 solubilized extract and that of 4.8S, 10-11S and 13.5S species of the enzyme. Inactivation of soluble acetylcholinesterase began at 45-47 degrees C and was almost complete at 60 degrees C. Sedimentation analysis revealed that the partial loss of activity was due to inactivation of the 4.8S form, although by heating the 13.5S was converted into the 10S enzyme. Inactivation of the 4.8S form began at 45 degrees C, whereas the larger forms required higher temperature. The 4.8S component follows a time course of inactivation which could be fitted by a double exponential equation (when heated at 52 degrees C, almost 83% of the activity showed a short half-life). The 10-11S species was also inactivated following a two step process while the 13.5S enzyme was fairly stable at 52 degrees C. The results show that the lightest component behaves as a monomeric form of acetylcholinesterase.