Selective inhibition of BChE activity, Butyrylcholinesterase can be used in the detection of organophosphates.Its use in the treatment of organophosphate toxicity has been explored. It has been reported that the level of BChE in human blood correlates to the degree of protection against potentially toxic nerve agents.Cholinesterases have also been investigated for their role in Alzheimer’s disease.
Biological Functions
Butyrylcholinesterase (BuChE) is found in plasma, the liver, and the kidney. Its activity is also inhibited by carbamate insecticides. BuChE is able to hydrolyze much larger substrates than AChE due to differences in their structure that allow BuChE to bind bulky ligands. The physiological role of BuChE is not completely understood, but it represents an important detoxification pathway for anticholinesterase compounds (Sultatos, 2006).
일반 설명
Butyrylcholinesterase (BChE) is a serine hydrolase that is structurally similar to acetylcholinesterase (AChE), but differs in substrate specificities and inhibitor sensitivities. The enzyme is a tetrameric glycoprotein with four equal subunits (110 kDa each). It is also termed as pseudocholinesterase. It is produced in the liver. It is found in blood, the synapse of neuromuscular junctions and glia cells and axons of white matter.
