Acetylcholinesterase

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Jump to: navigation, search
"ACHE" redirects here. For other uses, see Ache.
acetylcholinesterase
The reaction catalyzed by acetylcholinesterase.tif
Acetylcholinesterase catalyzes this hydrolysis of acetylcholine to acetate and choline
Identifiers
EC number 3.1.1.7
CAS number 9000-81-1
Databases
IntEnz IntEnz view
BRENDA BRENDA entry
ExPASy NiceZyme view
KEGG KEGG entry
MetaCyc metabolic pathway
PRIAM profile
PDB structures RCSB PDB PDBe PDBsum
Gene Ontology AmiGO / EGO
ACHE
PBB Protein ACHE image.jpg
Available structures
PDB Ortholog search: PDBe RCSB
Identifiers
Aliases ACHE, AChE, acetylhydrolase, acetylcholinesterase (Yt blood group), ACEE, ARN-YT, acetylcholinesterase (Cartwright blood group)
External IDs MGI: 87876 HomoloGene: 543 GeneCards: ACHE
Genetically Related Diseases
type 2 diabetes mellitus[1]
Targeted by Drug
donepezil, galantamine, neostigmine, physostigmine, pralidoxime, pyridostigmine, rivastigmine, tacrine[2]
RNA expression pattern
PBB GE ACHE 205377 s at tn.png

PBB GE ACHE 205378 s at tn.png
More reference expression data
Orthologs
Species Human Mouse
Entrez
Ensembl
UniProt
RefSeq (mRNA)

NM_000665
NM_001282449
NM_001302621
NM_001302622
NM_015831

NM_001290010
NM_009599

RefSeq (protein)

NP_000656
NP_001269378
NP_001289550
NP_001289551
NP_056646

NP_001276939.1
NP_033729.1
NP_001276939
NP_033729

Location (UCSC) Chr 7: 100.89 – 100.9 Mb Chr 5: 137.29 – 137.29 Mb
PubMed search [3] [4]
Wikidata
View/Edit Human View/Edit Mouse

Acetylcholinesterase (HGNC symbol ACHE), also known as AChE or acetylhydrolase, is the primary cholinesterase in the body. It is an enzyme that catalyzes the breakdown of acetylcholine and of some other choline esters that function as neurotransmitters. AChE is found at mainly neuromuscular junctions and in chemical synapses of the cholinergic type, where its activity serves to terminate synaptic transmission. It belongs to carboxylesterase family of enzymes. It is the primary target of inhibition by organophosphorus compounds such as nerve agents and pesticides.

Enzyme structure and mechanism[edit]

AChe mechanism of action[5]

AChE is a hydrolase that hydrolyzes choline esters. It has a very high catalytic activity - each molecule of AChE degrades about 25000 molecules of acetylcholine (ACh) per second, approaching the limit allowed by diffusion of the substrate.[6][7] The active site of AChE comprises 2 subsites - the anionic site and the esteratic subsite. The structure and mechanism of action of AChE have been elucidated from the crystal structure of the enzyme.[8][9]

The anionic subsite accommodates the positive quaternary amine of acetylcholine as well as other cationic substrates and inhibitors. The cationic substrates are not bound by a negatively charged amino acid in the anionic site, but by interaction of 14 aromatic residues that line the gorge leading to the active site.[10][11][12] All 14 amino acids in the aromatic gorge are highly conserved across different species.[13] Among the aromatic amino acids, tryptophan 84 is critical and its substitution with alanine results in a 3000-fold decrease in reactivity.[14] The gorge penetrates half way through the enzyme and is approximately 20 angstroms long. The active site is located 4 angstroms from the bottom of the molecule.[15]

The esteratic subsite, where acetylcholine is hydrolyzed to acetate and choline, contains the catalytic triad of three amino acids: serine 200, histidine 440 and glutamate 327. These three amino acids are similar to the triad in other serine proteases except that the glutamate is the third member rather than aspartate. Moreover, the triad is of opposite chirality to that of other proteases.[16] The hydrolysis reaction of the carboxyl ester leads to the formation of an acyl-enzyme and free choline. Then, the acyl-enzyme undergoes nucleophilic attack by a water molecule, assisted by the histidine 440 group, liberating acetic acid and regenerating the free enzyme.[17][18]

Biological function[edit]

During neurotransmission, ACh is released from the presynaptic neuron into the synaptic cleft and binds to ACh receptors on the post-synaptic membrane, relaying the signal from the nerve. AChE, also located on the post-synaptic membrane, terminates the signal transmission by hydrolyzing ACh. The liberated choline is taken up again by the pre-synaptic neuron and ACh is synthesized by combining with acetyl-CoA through the action of choline acetyltransferase.[19][20]

A cholinomimetic drug disrupts this process by acting as a cholinergic neurotransmitter that is impervious to acetylcholinesterase's lysing action.

Disease relevance[edit]

For a cholinergic neuron to receive another impulse, ACh must be released from the ACh receptor. This occurs only when the concentration of ACh in the synaptic cleft is very low. Inhibition of AChE leads to accumulation of ACh in the synaptic cleft and results in impeded neurotransmission.[21]

Mechanism of Inhibitors of AChE

Irreversible inhibitors of AChE may lead to muscular paralysis, convulsions, bronchial constriction, and death by asphyxiation. Organophosphates (OP), esters of phosphoric acid, are a class of irreversible AChE inhibitors.[22] Cleavage of OP by AChE leaves a phosphoryl group in the esteratic site, which is slow to be hydrolyzed (on the order of days) and can become covalently bound. Irreversible AChE inhibitors have been used in insecticides (e.g., malathion) and nerve gases for chemical warfare (e.g., Sarin and Soman). Carbamates, esters of N-methyl carbamic acid, are AChE inhibitors that hydrolyze in hours and have been used for medical purposes (e.g., physostigmine for the treatment of glaucoma). Reversible inhibitors occupy the esteratic site for short periods of time (seconds to minutes) and are used to treat of a range of central nervous system diseases. Tetrahydroaminoacridine (THA) and donepezil are FDA-approved to improve cognitive function in Alzheimer's disease. Rivastigmine is also used to treat Alzheimer's and Lewy body dementia, and pyridostigmine bromide is used to treat myasthenia gravis.[23][24][25][26][27][28]

An endogenous inhibitor of AChE in neurons is Mir-132 microRNA, which may limit inflammation in the brain by silencing the expression of this protein and allowing ACh to act in an anti-inflammatory capacity.[29]

It has also been shown that the main active ingredient in cannabis, tetrahydrocannabinol, is a competitive inhibitor of acetylcholinesterase.[30]

Distribution[edit]

AChE is found in many types of conducting tissue: nerve and muscle, central and peripheral tissues, motor and sensory fibers, and cholinergic and noncholinergic fibers. The activity of AChE is higher in motor neurons than in sensory neurons.[31][32][33]

Acetylcholinesterase is also found on the red blood cell membranes, where different forms constitute the Yt blood group antigens.[34] Acetylcholinesterase exists in multiple molecular forms, which possess similar catalytic properties, but differ in their oligomeric assembly and mode of attachment to the cell surface.

AChE gene[edit]

In mammals, acetylcholinesterase is encoded by a single AChE gene while some invertebrates have multiple acetylcholinesterase genes. Diversity in the transcribed products from the sole mammalian gene arises from alternative mRNA splicing and post-translational associations of catalytic and structural subunits. There are three known forms: T (tail), R (read through), and H(hydrophobic).[35]

AChET[edit]

The major form of acetylcholinesterase found in brain, muscle, and other tissues, known as is the hydrophilic species, which forms disulfide-linked oligomers with collagenous, or lipid-containing structural subunits. In the neuromuscular junctions AChE expresses in asymmetric form which associates with ColQ or subunit. In the central nervous system it is associated with PRiMA which stands for Proline Rich Membrane anchor to form symmetric form. In either case, the ColQ or PRiMA anchor serves to maintain the enzyme in the intercellular junction, ColQ for the neuromuscular junction and PRiMA for synapses.

AChEH[edit]

The other, alternatively spliced form expressed primarily in the erythroid tissues, differs at the C-terminus, and contains a cleavable hydrophobic peptide with a PI-anchor site. It associates with membranes through the phosphoinositide (PI) moieties added post-translationally.[36]

AChER[edit]

The third type has, so far, only been found in Torpedo sp. and mice although it is hypothesized in other species. It is thought to be involved in the stress response and, possibly, inflammation.[37]

See also[edit]

References[edit]

  1. ^ "Diseases that are genetically associated with ACHE view/edit references on wikidata". 
  2. ^ "Drugs that physically interact with Acetylcholinesterase (Cartwright blood group) view/edit references on wikidata". 
  3. ^ "Human PubMed Reference:". 
  4. ^ "Mouse PubMed Reference:". 
  5. ^ Katzung BG (2001). Basic and clinical pharmacology:Introduction to autonomic pharmacology (8 ed.). The McGraw Hill Companies. pp. 75–91. ISBN 978-0-07-160405-5. 
  6. ^ Quinn DM (1987). "Acetylcholinesterase: enzyme structure, reaction dynamics, and virtual transition states". Chemical Reviews. 87 (5): 955–79. doi:10.1021/cr00081a005. 
  7. ^ Taylor P, Radić Z (1994). "The cholinesterases: from genes to proteins". Annual Review of Pharmacology and Toxicology. 34: 281–320. doi:10.1146/annurev.pa.34.040194.001433. PMID 8042853. 
  8. ^ Sussman JL, Harel M, Frolow F, Oefner C, Goldman A, Toker L, Silman I (August 1991). "Atomic structure of acetylcholinesterase from Torpedo californica: a prototypic acetylcholine-binding protein". Science. 253 (5022): 872–9. Bibcode:1991Sci...253..872S. doi:10.1126/science.1678899. PMID 1678899. 
  9. ^ Sussman JL, Harel M, Silman I (June 1993). "Three-dimensional structure of acetylcholinesterase and of its complexes with anticholinesterase drugs". Chem. Biol. Interact. 87 (1–3): 187–97. doi:10.1016/0009-2797(93)90042-W. PMID 8343975. 
  10. ^ Radić Z, Gibney G, Kawamoto S, MacPhee-Quigley K, Bongiorno C, Taylor P (October 1992). "Expression of recombinant acetylcholinesterase in a baculovirus system: kinetic properties of glutamate 199 mutants". Biochemistry. 31 (40): 9760–7. doi:10.1021/bi00155a032. PMID 1356436. 
  11. ^ Ordentlich A, Barak D, Kronman C, Ariel N, Segall Y, Velan B, Shafferman A (February 1995). "Contribution of aromatic moieties of tyrosine 133 and of the anionic subsite tryptophan 86 to catalytic efficiency and allosteric modulation of acetylcholinesterase". J. Biol. Chem. 270 (5): 2082–91. doi:10.1074/jbc.270.5.2082. PMID 7836436. 
  12. ^ Ariel N, Ordentlich A, Barak D, Bino T, Velan B, Shafferman A (October 1998). "The 'aromatic patch' of three proximal residues in the human acetylcholinesterase active centre allows for versatile interaction modes with inhibitors". Biochem. J. 335 (1): 95–102. PMC 1219756Freely accessible. PMID 9742217.  open access publication - free to read
  13. ^ Ordentlich A, Barak D, Kronman C, Flashner Y, Leitner M, Segall Y, Ariel N, Cohen S, Velan B, Shafferman A (August 1993). "Dissection of the human acetylcholinesterase active center determinants of substrate specificity. Identification of residues constituting the anionic site, the hydrophobic site, and the acyl pocket". J. Biol. Chem. 268 (23): 17083–95. PMID 8349597.  open access publication - free to read
  14. ^ Tougu V (2001). "Acetylcholinesterase: Mechanism of Catalysis and Inhibition" (PDF). Current Medicinal Chemistry Central Nervous System Agents. 1 (2): 155–170. doi:10.2174/1568015013358536.  closed access publication – behind paywall
  15. ^ Harel M, Schalk I, Ehret-Sabatier L, Bouet F, Goeldner M, Hirth C, Axelsen PH, Silman I, Sussman JL (1993). "Quaternary ligand binding to aromatic residues in the active-site gorge of acetylcholinesterase". Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America. 90 (19): 9031–5. Bibcode:1993PNAS...90.9031H. doi:10.1073/pnas.90.19.9031. PMC 47495Freely accessible. PMID 8415649. 
  16. ^ Tripathi A (October 2008). "Acetylcholinsterase: A Versatile Enzyme of Nervous System". Annals of Neurosciences. 15 (4): 106–111. doi:10.5214/ans.0972.7531.2008.150403. 
  17. ^ Pauling L (1946). "Molecular Architecture and Biological Reactions" (PDF). Chemical & Engineering News. 24 (10): 1375–1377. doi:10.1021/cen-v024n010.p1375. 
  18. ^ Fersht A (1985). Enzyme structure and mechanism. San Francisco: W.H. Freeman. p. 14. ISBN 0-7167-1614-3. 
  19. ^ Whittaker VP (1990). "The Contribution of Drugs and Toxins to Understanding of Cholinergic Function". Trends in Physiological Sciences. 11 (1): 8–13. doi:10.1016/0165-6147(90)90034-6. PMID 2408211. 
  20. ^ Purves D, Augustine GJ, Fitzpatrick D, Hall WC, LaMantia AS, McNamara JO, White LE (2008). Neuroscience (4th ed.). Sinauer Associates. pp. 121–2. ISBN 978-0-87893-697-7. 
  21. ^ [citation needed]
  22. ^ "National Pesticide Information Center-Diazinon Technical Fact Sheet" (PDF). Retrieved 24 February 2012. 
  23. ^ "Clinical Application: Acetylcholine and Alzheimer's Disease". Retrieved 24 February 2012. 
  24. ^ Stoelting R (1999). Anticholinesterase Drugs and Cholinergic Agonists", in Pharmacology and Physiology in Anesthetic Practice. Lippincott-Raven. ISBN 978-0-7817-5469-9. 
  25. ^ Taylor P, Hardman, J.G, Limbird, L.E, Molinoff, P.B., Ruddon, R.W, Gilman, A.G. (1996). "5: Autonomic Pharmacology: Cholinergic Drugs". The Pharmacologial Basis of Therapeutics. THe McGraw-Hill Companies. pp. 161–174. ISBN 978-0-07-146804-6. 
  26. ^ Blumenthal D, Brunton L, Goodman LS, Parker K, Gilman A, Lazo JS, Buxton I (1996). "5: Autonomic Pharmacology: Cholinergic Drugs". Goodman & Gilman's The pharmacological basis of therapeutics. New York: McGraw-Hill. p. 1634. ISBN 978-0-07-146804-6. 
  27. ^ Drachman D, Isselbacher, K.J., Braunwald, E., Wilson, J.D., Martin, J.B., Fauci, A.S., Kasper, D.L. (1998). Harrison's Principles of Internal Medicine (14 ed.). The McCraw-Hill Companies. pp. 2469–2472. ISBN 978-0-07-020291-7. 
  28. ^ Raffe RB. Autonomic and Somatic Nervous Systems in Netter's Illustrated Pharmacology. Elsevier Health Science. p. 43. ISBN 978-1-929007-60-8. 
  29. ^ Shaked I, Meerson A, Wolf Y, Avni R, Greenberg D, Gilboa-Geffen A, Soreq H (2009). "MicroRNA-132 potentiates cholinergic anti-inflammatory signaling by targeting acetylcholinesterase". Immunity. 31 (6): 965–73. doi:10.1016/j.immuni.2009.09.019. PMID 20005135. 
  30. ^ Eubanks LM, Rogers CJ, Beuscher AE, Koob GF, Olson AJ, Dickerson TJ, Janda KD (2006). "A molecular link between the active component of marijuana and Alzheimer's disease pathology". Mol Pharm. 3 (6): 773–7. doi:10.1021/mp060066m. PMC 2562334Freely accessible. PMID 17140265. 
  31. ^ Massoulié J, Pezzementi L, Bon S, Krejci E, Vallette FM (July 1993). "Molecular and cellular biology of cholinesterases". Progress in Neurobiology. 41 (1): 31–91. doi:10.1016/0301-0082(93)90040-Y. PMID 8321908. 
  32. ^ Chacko LW, Cerf JA (1960). "Histochemical localization of cholinesterase in the amphibian spinal cord and alterations following ventral root section". Journal of Anatomy. 94 (Pt 1): 74–81. PMC 1244416Freely accessible. PMID 13808985. 
  33. ^ Koelle GB (1954). "The histochemical localization of cholinesterases in the central nervous system of the rat". Journal of Comparative Anatomy. 100 (1): 211–35. doi:10.1002/cne.901000108. PMID 13130712. 
  34. ^ Bartels CF, Zelinski T, Lockridge O (May 1993). "Mutation at codon 322 in the human acetylcholinesterase (ACHE) gene accounts for YT blood group polymorphism". Am. J. Hum. Genet. 52 (5): 928–36. PMC 1682033Freely accessible. PMID 8488842. 
  35. ^ Massoulié J, Perrier N, Noureddine H, Liang D, Bon S (2008). "Old and new questions about cholinesterases". Chem Biol Interact. 175 (1–3): 30–44. doi:10.1016/j.cbi.2008.04.039. PMID 18541228. 
  36. ^ "Entrez Gene: ACHE acetylcholinesterase (Yt blood group)". 
  37. ^ Dori A, Ifergane G, Saar-Levy T, Bersudsky M, Mor I, Soreq H, Wirguin I (2007). "Readthrough acetylcholinesterase in inflammation-associated neuropathies". Life Sci. 80 (24–25): 2369–74. doi:10.1016/j.lfs.2007.02.011. PMID 17379257. 

Further reading[edit]

External links[edit]