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

The interaction of acetylcholine receptor and acetylcholinesterase with lipid monolayers was followed by measuring changes in surface pressure. When injected into the subphase of a lipid monolayer, the proteins caused increases in surface pressure from 5 to 10 dynes/cm, indicating a penetration of protein into the monolayer. At pH values below the isoelectric point of the proteins the incorporation was improved. The same was observed when Ca2+ (2mM) was added. The presence of the enzyme in the mixed film could be demonstrated by using diiso [3H] propyl fluorophosphate-labelled acetylcholinesterase as well as by measuring enzyme activity. Acetylcholine receptor was shown to be present in the mixed film by using a complex made of the receptor and alpha-[3H]neurotoxin.
 ...
PMID:Interactions of acetylcholine receptor and acetylcholinesterase with lipid monolayers. 62 25

The existence of chronic "limb-girdle" form of myasthenia gravis (MG) has been questioned. We report here 12 such patients (10 women and two men) who constituted 3.8% of 314 MG patients in our study. The duration of disease ranged from 4 months to 7 years before the diagnosis. In almost all cases, the initial diagnosis was other than MG. None of the patients had any oculobulbar weakness. Acetylcholine receptor antibody was positive in five cases, although not all in the first assay. Repetitive nerve stimulation test was positive in all cases, although not necessarily the first time. Single-fiber EMG was positive in 11 cases. All patients responded to acetylcholinesterase inhibitors, and two thirds underwent immunotherapy. Diagnosis of limb-girdle MG requires a strong index of suspicion.
 ...
PMID:Chronic limb-girdle myasthenia gravis. 160 41

Acetylcholine receptors (AChRs) are packed in the postsynaptic membrane at neuromuscular junctions at a density of approximately 20,000/micron 2, whereas the density a few micrometers away is less than 20/micron 2. To understand how this remarkable distribution comes about during nerve-muscle synapse formation, we have attempted to isolate factors from neural tissue that can promote the accumulation of AChRs and/or alter their distribution. In this paper we report the purification of a polypeptide from chick brains that can increase the rate of insertion of AChR into membranes of cultured chick myotubes at a concentration of less than 0.5 ng/ml. Based on SDS PAGE and the action of neuraminidase, the acetylcholine receptor-inducing activity (ARIA) appears to be a 42,000-D glycoprotein. ARIA was extracted in a trifluoroacetic acid-containing cocktail and purified to homogeneity by reverse-phase, ion exchange, and size exclusion high pressure liquid chromatography. Dose response curves indicate that the activity has been purified 60,000-fold compared with the starting acid extract and approximately 1,500,000-fold compared with a saline extract prepared from the same batch of brains. Although the ARIA was purified on the basis of its ability to increase receptor incorporation, we found that it increased the number and size of receptor clusters as well. It is not yet clear if the two effects are independent. The 42-kD ARIA is extremely stable: it was not destroyed by exposure to intact myotubes, low pH, organic solvents, or SDS. Its action appears to be selective in that the increase in the rate of receptor insertion was not accompanied by an increase in the rate of protein synthesis. Moreover, there was no change in cellular, surface membrane, or secreted acetylcholinesterase. The effect of ARIA is apparently independent of the state of activity of the target myotubes as its effect on receptor incorporation added to that of maximal concentrations of tetrodotoxin.
 ...
PMID:Purification and characterization of a polypeptide from chick brain that promotes the accumulation of acetylcholine receptors in chick myotubes. 373 76

Acetylcholine receptor appearance rate in the presence of the phenothiazines trifluoperazine and chlorpromazine was measured in cultured embryonic chick myotubes by means of 125I-alpha-bungarotoxin. At drug concentrations of 5 to 10 X 10(-6) M, receptor appearance rate was significantly enhanced while receptor half-life, cellular protein, net protein synthesis rate, and acetylcholinesterase levels were not similarly affected. The sulfoxide derivatives were without effect. At concentrations of 3 X 10(-5) M and above, both trifluoperazine and chlorpromazine caused myotube contracture and cell loss. Drug combination experiments revealed that receptor stimulation caused by phenothiazines is overcome by low concentrations of veratridine and ryanodine, but not by membrane depolarization with 20 mM KCl. These results lend support to the role of calcium as an intracellular messenger in acetylcholine receptor synthesis regulation, but are difficult to reconcile with the notion that cytosolic calmodulin serves as the calcium receptor in this signaling pathway. Since the trifluoperazine effect resembles that caused by the calcium antagonist D-600, phenothiazines may stimulate receptor synthesis by blocking a voltage-gated calcium channel.
 ...
PMID:Trifluoperazine stimulates acetylcholine receptor synthesis in cultured chick myotubes. 614 23

Acetylcholine receptor number and the acetylcholinesterase activity have been studied in organ-cultured chick ciliary ganglia. Receptor number decreases progressively reaching minimum value after two days of culture. Acetylcholinesterase activity decreases slowly reaching at day 3 the 75% of the original value. The biological significance of these data is discussed in relation to the ganglion disconnection from the periphery and from the central nervous system.
 ...
PMID:[Acetylcholine receptors and acetylcholinesterase activity in cultured chick ciliary ganglia]. 744 50

Two children, now 5 1/2 and 6 years of age, presented as neonates with hypotonia, multiple joint contractures, ptosis, extraocular weakness, bulbar symptoms, and respiratory distress. Fluctuations and episodic exacerbations of weakness necessitated respiratory support. Both children are developmentally delayed and cannot walk independently, although one child underwent bilateral tenotomies. Biochemical investigations and electromyography, including slow-rate, repetitive nerve stimulation, were normal. Acetylcholine receptor antibodies in serum were absent. Single-fiber electromyography with axonal stimulation revealed prolonged mean jitter in the tibialis anterior and extensor digitorum muscles, with more than 2 abnormal individual jitter values in each muscle. Muscle biopsy demonstrated normal pattern and morphology of muscle fibers; immunohistochemical staining for cholinesterase was positive. Electron microscopy revealed abnormalities in motor endplates: atrophy, flattening of primary synaptic clefts, and paucity of side branches. These findings represent one of the postsynaptic abnormalities (i.e., acetylcholine receptor deficiency or paucity of synaptic folds). Both children improved clinically on pyridostigmine therapy. Arthrogryposis congenital multiplex due to congenital myasthenic syndrome, as diagnosed in our patients, has been reported once before. The diagnosis can be established by clinical history, neurologic examination, and electrophysiologic and pathologic findings. Clinical improvement can be achieved with high-dose anticholinesterase therapy.
 ...
PMID:Arthrogryposis multiplex congenita due to congenital myasthenic syndrome. 761 91

Several approaches have been developed for genetic modulations of receptor expression. These initiated with gene cloning and heterologous expression in microinjected Xenopus oocytes, and proceeded through transgenic expression and genomic disruption of receptor genes in mice. In addition, antisense treatments have reduced receptor levels in a transient, reversible manner. Integration of foreign DNA with host genomic sequences yields both cis- and trans-acting responses. These may depend on the DNA integration site, host cells condition and most importantly, the affected signal transduction circuit. For example, acetylcholinesterase (AChE) overexpression in microinjected Xenopus tadpoles has been shown to upregulate alpha-bungarotoxin binding levels, indicating trans-acting control conferring overproduction of muscle nicotinic acetylcholine receptors. In transgenic mice expressing human AChE, the hypothermic response to oxotremorine was suppressed, reflecting modified levels of brain muscarinic receptors. To dissociate the feedback processes occurring in transfected cells from responses related to DNA integration, we examined the endogenous expression of the alpha 7 neuronal nicotinic acetylcholine receptor in PC12 cells transfected with DNA vectors carrying alternative splicing variants of human AChE mRNA. Our findings demonstrate suppression of alpha 7 receptor levels associated with the accumulation of foreign DNA in the transfected cells. Acetylcholine receptor levels thus depend on multiple elements, each of which should be considered when genetic interventions are employed.
 ...
PMID:Genetic manipulations of cholinergic communication reveal trans-acting control mechanisms over acetylcholine receptors. 902 96

To investigate the role of neurotransmitter secretion in the development and stabilization of synapses, the innervation of the diaphragm and intercostal muscles was studied in munc18-1 null mutant mice, which lack regulated secretion. We found that this mutant is completely devoid of both spontaneous and evoked neuromuscular transmission throughout embryonic development. At embryonic day (E) 14, axonal targeting and main branching of the phrenic nerve were normal in this mutant, but tertiary branches were elongated and no terminal branches were observed at this stage, in contrast to control littermates. Acetylcholinesterase staining was observed in the endplate region of mutant muscle from E14 onwards, but not as dense and confined to spots as in controls. Acetylcholine receptor staining was also present in the endplate region of the mutant muscle. In this case, the staining density and the concentration in spots (clusters) were similar to controls, but the distribution of these clusters was less organized. Starting at E15, some receptor clusters co-localized with nerve terminal staining, suggesting synapses, but most clusters remained a-neural. Electron microscopical analysis confirmed the presence of synaptic structures in the mutant. Between E14 and birth, the characteristic staining pattern of nerve branches gradually disappeared in the mutant until, at E18, an elaborate meshwork of nerve fibers with no apparent organization remained. In the same period, most of the motor neuronal cell bodies in the spinal cord degenerated. In contrast, sensory ganglia in the dorsal root showed no obvious degeneration. These data suggest that regulated secretion is not essential for initial axon path finding, clustering of acetylcholine receptors, acetylcholinesterase or the formation of synapses. However, in the absence of regulated secretion, the maintenance of the motor neuronal system, organization of nerve terminal branches and stabilization of synapses is impaired and a-neural postsynaptic elements persist.
 ...
PMID:Development of the mouse neuromuscular junction in the absence of regulated secretion. 1289 13

Neuromuscular junction disorders in children are either genetic, such as congenital myasthenic syndrome, or autoimmune with circulating antibodies most commonly against acetylcholine receptors. There is limited experience recognizing and treating children with myasthenia associated with muscle-specific tyrosine kinase antibodies. We report a seven-year-old child with intermittent esotropia since age 3 months, and two years of progressive and severe diplopia, dysarthria, dysphagia, and facial weakness. Acetylcholine receptor antibodies and genetic testing for congenital myasthenic syndrome were negative. Muscle specific tyrosine kinase antibodies were significantly elevated. Ophthalmoplegia and bulbar weakness were refractory to treatment with acetylcholinesterase inhibitors, corticosteroids and IVIg but completely resolved following treatment with rituximab. Her neurologic examination remained normal at the most recent follow-up, 15 months after initiation of rituximab. Children with MuSK myasthenia, like adults, can respond to rituximab despite long standing disease and failure to improve on other immunosuppressant medications.
...
PMID:Selective response to rituximab in a young child with MuSK-associated myasthenia gravis. 2599 11

A 46-year-old woman was referred to our hospital for a tumor in the anterior mediastinum. She had no symptoms of myasthenia gravis(MG). Acetylcholine receptor antibody(AchR-Ab) was within the normal range. The tumor was completely resected by thymectomy. Pathological examination of the tumor identified it as a type AB thymoma (Masaoka stage I). Five days after the surgery, she experienced post-thymectomy MG (raised AchR-Ab and positive tensilon test). Her symptoms improved with anti-cholinesterase and tacrolimus therapy.
...
PMID:[Post-thymectomy Myasthenia Gravis ; Report of a Case]. 2632 35


1 2 Next >>