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Cholinesterase inhibition.

Wilson BW

Encyclopedia of toxicology. Wexler-P; Gad-SC, eds., San Diego, CA: Academic Press, 1998 1:326-340

20033398

Cholinesterases (ChEs) are a ubiquitous groups of enzymes that hydrolyze esters of choline. A well known example is acetylcholinesterase (AChE, acetyl choline hydrolase, EC 3.1.1.7), the enzyme responsible for hydrolyzing the important neurotransmitter acetyl­choline (ACh). Another ChE is butyrylcholinesterase (BuChE, acylcholine acylhydrolase, EC 3.1.1.8), also known as nonspecific cholinesterase. The preferred substrate for AChEs is ACh; BuChEs prefer to hydro­lyze esters like butyrylcholine and propionylcholine. Both AChE and BuChE are inhibited by some organo­phosphate (OP) and carbamate (CB) esters, and also by other chemicals. Many ChE inhibitors act at the catalytic site of the enzyme, forming enzyme-inhibitor complexes that are slow to hydrolyze. The use of ChE inhibitors as insecti­cides and as chemical warfare agents, their toxicity to humans, and their impact on wildlife have made them important to toxicology researchers and, public health and environmental health officials.

Chemical-analysis; Chemical-extraction; Chemical-reactions; Chemical-structure; Chemical-synthesis; Chemical-warfare-agents; Cholinesterase-inhibitors; Acetylcholinesterase; Enzymatic-effects; Enzyme-complexes; Enzyme-inhibitors; Enzymes; Neurotransmitters; Organo-phosphorus-pesticides; Pesticides; Pesticides-and-agricultural-chemicals; Toxic-effects; Toxins; Environmental-factors; Environmental-hazards; Environmental-health; Humans; Exposure-levels; Exposure-limits

19980101

Chapter

Wexler P; Gad SC

1055222

Cooperative Agreement

1998

9780122272202

Cooperative-Agreement-Number-U07-CCU-906162

Encyclopedia of toxicology

CA

University of California - Davis