Gene/Protein Disease Symptom Drug Enzyme Compound
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Query: EC:3.1.1.7 (acetylcholinesterase)
28,390 document(s) hit in 31,850,051 MEDLINE articles (0.00 seconds)

We reported previously that two epidermal growth factor receptor ligands, epidermal growth factor and transforming growth factor-alpha, inhibit medial septal cholinergic cell phenotypic expression (choline acetyltransferase and acetylcholinesterase activities) in vitro indirectly via (a) soluble molecule(s) released from astrocytes [Kenigsberg R. L. et al. (1992) Neuroscience 50, 85-97; Kenigsberg R. L. and Mazzoni I. E. (1995) J. Neurosci. Res. 41, 734-744; Mazzoni I. E. and Kenigsberg R. L. (1996) Brain Res. 707, 88-99]. In the present study, we found that this response to transforming growth factor-alpha is mediated, for the most part, by alpha 2-macroglobulin, a potent protease inhibitor with a wide spectrum of biological activities. In this regard, the effects of transforming growth factor-alpha on cholinergic cells can be blocked with immunoneutralizing antibodies raised against alpha 2-macroglobulin. Furthermore, western blot analysis reveals that although alpha 2-macroglobulin is present in conditioned media from control septal cultures, it is more abundant in those treated with transforming growth factor-alpha. In addition, exogenous alpha 2-macroglobulin, both in its native and trypsin-activated forms, can mimic transforming growth factor-alpha's effects on septal cholinergic cell expression. However, while the native antiprotease can slightly but significantly decrease choline acetyltransferase activity, trypsin-activated alpha 2-macroglobulin, in the nanomolar range, induces as marked a decrease in this enzyme activity as that noted with transforming growth factor-alpha. Furthermore, trypsin-activated alpha 2-macroglobulin, like epidermal growth factor/transforming growth factor-alpha, decreases choline acetyltransferase activity by arresting its spontaneous increase that occurs with time in culture, does so in a reversible manner and is not neurotoxic. In addition, trypsin-activated alpha 2-macroglobulin, in the nanomolar range, can affect choline acetyltransferase in a dual manner, up-regulating it at low concentrations while down-regulating it at higher ones. These responses are identical in mixed neuronal-glial and pure neuronal septal cultures. Furthermore, when concentrations of trypsin-activated alpha 2-macroglobulin, which alone decrease choline acetyltransferase, are added simultaneously with nerve growth factor, they serve to potentiate the nerve growth factor-induced increase in enzymatic activity. As GABAergic cell expression is not affected by alpha 2-macroglobulin, it appears that the effects of this protease inhibitor on medial septal neuronal expression are neurotransmitter-specific. Finally, trypsin-activated but not native alpha 2-macroglobulin promotes a dose-dependent aggregation of the septal neurons. This change in morphology, however, is not related to those noted in choline acetyltransferase activity. In summary, these data suggest that the expression of alpha 2-macroglobulin in astroglia from the medial septal nucleus can be controlled by epidermal growth factor receptor ligands to impact the functioning of basal forebrain cholinergic neurons.
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PMID:Transforming growth factor-alpha's effects on astroglial-cholinergic cell interactions in the medial septal area in vitro are mediated by alpha 2-macroglobulin. 933 Mar 64

A sarin-like organophosphorus agent, [bis(isopropyl methyl)phosphonate; BIMP], was synthesized. This agent has the same phosphonate group as sarin and also has the same anti-acetylcholinesterase activity potency as sarin. The ID50 and LD50 values of BIMP in mice after intravenous injection were 3.9 nM and 0.8 mg/kg, respectively. The AChE activities of their red blood cells and brains were dose-dependently reduced by intravenous BIMP. After preparation of experimental BIMP-exposed human red blood cells, BIMP-bound acetylcholinesterase (AChE) was solubilized from erythrocyte membranes, purified by immunoaffinity chromatography, digested with trypsin, and the sarin hydrolysis products bound to AChE were released by alkaline phosphatase digestion. The digested sarin hydrolysis products were subjected to trimethylsilyl (TMS) derivatization and detected by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. Isopropyl methylphosphonic- and methylphosphonic acids, which are the sarin hydrolysis products, were detected in experimental BIMP-exposed human red blood cells. This new method, which enables sarin's hydrolysis products to be detected in BIMP-exposed erythrocytes, is a useful tool for studying sarin-poisoning victims.
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PMID:Detection of sarin hydrolysis products from sarin-like organophosphorus agent-exposed human erythrocytes. 938 33

One of the hydrolysis products of sarin (isopropyl methylphosphonofluoridate) was detected in formalin-fixed brain tissues of victims poisoned in the Tokyo subway terrorist attack. Part of this procedure, used for the detection of sarin hydrolysis products in erythrocytes of sarin victims, has been described previously. The test materials were four individual cerebellums, which had been stored in formalin fixative for about 2 years. Sarin-bound acetylcholinesterase (AChE) was solubilized from these cerebellums, purified by immunoaffinity chromatography, and digested with trypsin. Then the sarin hydrolysis products bound to AChE were released by alkaline phosphatase digestion, subjected to trimethylsilyl derivatization (TMS), and detected by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. Peaks at m/z 225 and m/z 240, which are indicative of TMS-methylphosphonic acid, were observed within the retention time range of authentic methylphosphonic acid. However, no isopropyl methylphosphonic acid was detected in the formalin-fixed cerebellums of these 4 sarin victims, probably because the isopropoxy group of isopropyl methylphosphonic acid underwent chemical hydrolysis during storage. This procedure will be useful for the forensic diagnosis of poisoning by protein-bound, highly toxic agents, such as sarin, which are easily hydrolysed. This appears to be the first time that intoxication by a nerve agent has been demonstrated by analyzing formalin-fixed brains obtained at autopsy.
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PMID:Detection of the sarin hydrolysis product in formalin-fixed brain tissues of victims of the Tokyo subway terrorist attack. 965 62

The amidine-containing alpha-aminoalkyl phosphonofluoridate 3 (Cbz-(4-AmPhGly)P(OPh)(F)) is a very potent inhibitor of trypsin-like enzymes. It was prepared by hydrolyzing the corresponding phosphonate diphenyl ester 4 followed by reaction of fluoride with the phosphonochloridate prepared from the intermediate phosphonic acid monoester 5. Compound 3 is the most potent amidine-containing organophosphorus inhibitor yet reported for trypsin-like enzymes. It inhibits trypsin and thrombin with second-order rate constants (Kobs/[I]) of 2.6 x 10(5) M-1 s-1 and 1.0 x 10(5) M-1 s-1, respectively, showing a 130-fold and a 1250-fold rate enhancement over the corresponding diphenyl ester (4). It also inactivates trypsin 2 orders of magnitude more potently than simple phosphonofluoridates such as DFP,1 Sarin and Soman. The phosphonofluoridate 3 does not inhibit other serine proteases such as porcine pancreatic elastase (PPE) and the esterase acetylcholinesterase (AChE). The phosphonofluoridate 3 is hydrolyzed rapidly in buffer solution and has a t1/2 of 4.5 s at pH 7.5.
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PMID:Synthesis and kinetic studies of an amidine-containing phosphonofluoridate: a novel potent inhibitor of trypsin-like enzymes. 983 6

(1) The effects of long term treatment with 3-acetylpyridine on the stability of enzymes towards heat and trypsin treatment were studied. (2) In the liver NAD or NADP provided a similar degree of protection against heat inactivation at 55 degrees C for 6-phosphogluconate dehydrogenase (24%), glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase (24%) and malic enzyme (20%), low level of protection of lactate dehydrogenase (13%) but didn't affect acetylcholinesterase at all. In the muscle, however, there was substantial protection against heat inactivation by coenzyme of glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase (52%), an intermediate level of protection of lactate dehydrogenase (25%), low level of protection of 6-phosphogluconate dehydrogenase (17%) and malic enzyme (17%) and almost no protection of acetylcholinesterase. (3) In the susceptibility towards trypsin a low but similar degree of protection for dehydrogenases by coenzymes was observed in the liver whereas in the muscle there was substantial protection against trypsin inactivation by NAD of glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase, an intermediate level of protection of 6-phosphogluconate dehydrogenase and malic enzyme and very little protection of lactate dehydrogenase but no protection of acetylcholinesterase. Among enzymes tested, glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase showed the greatest protection against heat and trypsin inactivation by NAD. (4) The results suggest that the effect of 3-acetylpyridine treatment on the stability of muscle glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase appears to be quite specific and selective.
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PMID:Effects of NAD or NADP on the stability of liver and pectoral muscle enzymes in 3-acetylpyridine treated quail by heat and trypsin. 983 47

Serine esterases react with [3H]diisopropylphosphofluoridate ([3H]DFP) to produce radioactive adducts that can be resolved by denaturing slab gel electrophoresis. To identify an esterase or its catalytic subunit, a potential substrate was included in the reaction mixture with the expectation that it would suppress the enzyme's reaction with [3H]DFP. The nature of the enzyme could be inferred from the character of the substrates that suppress labeling. The validity of this analytical method was tested with two serine proteases, trypsin and alpha-chymotrypsin, and two serine esterases, acetylcholinesterase (AChE) and butyrylcholinesterase (BuChE), and several of their natural or model substrates or inhibitors. Application of the method to complex biological systems was tested with chicken embryo brain microsomes. Trypsin labeling with [3H]DFP was suppressed by alpha-N-benzoyl-l-arginine ethyl ester (BAEE) and poly-l-lysine but not by benzoyl-l-tyrosine ethyl ester (BTEE). [3H]DFP labeling of chymotrypsin was suppressed by both BAEE and BTEE. Labeling of AChE and BuChE was suppressed by their natural and some related substrates and inhibitors. [3H]DFP reacted with brain microsomes to produce nine distinct radioactive bands. When the relevant substrates and inhibitors of AChE were included in the reaction mixtures, labeling of only the 95-kDa band was suppressed, implicating it as AChE. Labeling of the 85- and 79-kDa bands was inhibited by butyrylcholine, suggesting that these proteins have BuChE activity.
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PMID:Identification of serine esterases in tissue homogenates. 1003 48

Mouse plasma acetylcholinesterase (AChE) tetramers (G4) and dimers (G2) were retained by edrophonium-Sepharose, whereas AChE monomers (G1), and G4, G2 and G1 butyrylcholinesterase (BuChE) forms were not. Plasma G4 or G1 AChE did not differ in their affinity for edrophonium. G1 AChE, and G1 and G2 BuChE were retained in octyl-Sepharose, while G4 and G2 AChE, and G4 BuChE eluted freely. The amphiphilic behaviour of G1 AChE remained unmodified after incubation with trypsin. The electrophoretic mobility of the AChE monomers varied with the detergent added to the samples. The results show that mouse plasma G1 AChE possesses hydrophobic regions, which prevent its binding to the affinity matrix, and afford its interaction with octyl-Sepharose. The hydrophobic regions in G1 AChE probably provide conformational stability to disulfide-linked subunits in hydrophilic dimers.
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PMID:Amphiphilic properties of acetylcholinesterase monomers in mouse plasma. 1032 68

3-Alkylpyridinium polymers (poly-APS), composed of 29 or 99 N-butyl-3-butyl pyridinium units, were isolated from the marine sponge Reniera sarai. They act as potent cholinesterase inhibitors. The inhibition kinetics pattern reveals several successive phases ending in irreversible inhibition of the enzyme. To provide more information on mechanism of inhibition, interaction of poly-APS and N-butyl-3-butyl pyridinium iodide (NBPI) with soluble dimeric and monomeric insect acetylcholinesterase (AChE) was studied by using enzyme intrinsic fluorescence and light scattering, conformational probes ANS and trypsin, and SDS-PAGE. Poly-APS quenched tryptophan fluorescence emission of AChE more extensively than NBPI. Both inhibitors exhibited a pseudo-Lehrer type of quenching. Interaction of poly-APS with dimeric AChE did not induce significant changes of the enzyme conformation as assayed by using the hydrophobic probe ANS and trypsin digestion. In contrast to NBPI, titration of both monomeric and dimeric AChE with poly-APS resulted in the appearance of large complexes detected by measuring light scattering. An excess of poly-APS produced AChE precipitation as proved on SDS-PAGE. None of the effects were observed with trypsin as a control. It was concluded that AChE aggregation and precipitation rather than the enzyme conformational changes accounted for the observed irreversible component of poly-APS inhibition.
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PMID:Interaction of 3-alkylpyridinium polymers from the sea sponge Reniera sarai with insect acetylcholinesterase. 1039 43

The comparative analysis of the products of the limited proteolysis of bovine thyroglobulin with trypsin by SDS-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis in non-reducing and reducing conditions revealed the presence of disulfide linkages between some of the fragments. In order to define the disulfide bond pattern between the proteolytic fragments of thyroglobulin, these were isolated by SDS-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis in non-reducing conditions and electrophoretic transfer onto polyvinylidene difluoride membranes. Individual bands were desorbed from the membranes and re-analyzed by SDS-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis in reducing conditions. The resulting peptides were identified by comparison with the peptides directly obtained by SDS-electrophoresis in reducing conditions, and characterized by amino-terminal peptide sequencing either in this study or in a previous investigation (Gentile F., Salvatore G., Eur. J. Biochem. 218 (1993) 603-621). The analysis revealed that several fragments, produced by cleavages within the context of various cysteine-rich repeats of type 1 and within cysteine-rich repeat 3b.1, did not separate in the absence of reduction. On the other hand, the products of the cleavages at the carboxy-terminal extremity of the linker between type 2 and type 3 cysteine-rich repeats, and in the middle of the acetylcholinesterase-similar domain of thyroglobulin separated freely, with no need for reduction. On the base of these data, a model is presented in which distinct subsets of cysteine-rich repeats and the carboxy-terminal, acetylcholinesterase-similar domain of thyroglobulin form sequentially aligned subdomains with internal disulfide linkages.
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PMID:The disulfide bond pattern between fragments obtained by the limited proteolysis of bovine thyroglobulin. 1040 84

Acetylcholinesterase, a polymorphic enzyme, appears to form amphiphilic and nonamphiphilic tetramers from a single splice variant; this suggests discrete tetrameric arrangements where the amphipathic carboxyl-terminal sequences can be either buried or exposed. Two distinct, but related crystal structures of the soluble, trypsin-released tetramer of acetylcholinesterase from Electrophorus electricus were solved at 4.5 and 4.2 A resolution by molecular replacement. Resolution at these levels is sufficient to provide substantial information on the relative orientations of the subunits within the tetramer. The two structures, which show canonical homodimers of subunits assembled through four-helix bundles, reveal discrete geometries in the assembly of the dimers to form: (a) a loose, pseudo-square planar tetramer with antiparallel alignment of the two four-helix bundles and a large space in the center where the carboxyl-terminal sequences may be buried or (b) a compact, square nonplanar tetramer that may expose all four sequences on a single side. Comparison of these two structures points to significant conformational flexibility of the tetramer about the four-helix bundle axis and along the dimer-dimer interface. Hence, in solution, several conformational states of a flexible tetrameric arrangement of acetylcholinesterase catalytic subunits may exist to accommodate discrete carboxyl-terminal sequences of variable dimensions and amphipathicity.
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PMID:Conformational flexibility of the acetylcholinesterase tetramer suggested by x-ray crystallography. 1052 13


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