Determination of Productive Conformation of Acetylcholinesterase Substrates Using Molecular Mechanics

A Density-Functional Study of the Conformational Preference of Acetylcholine in the Neutral Hydrolysis

Acetylcholine, which is associated with Alzheimer's disease, is widely known to have conformers. The preference of each conformer to undergo neutral hydrolysis is yet to be considered. In this study, we employed density-functional calculations to build the conformers and investigated their preference in one-step neutral hydrolysis. The results showed the preference in ten possible hydrolysis pathways involving seven acetylcholine conformers (reactant), four transition state structures, and two choline conformers (product). Three out of the seven acetylcholine conformers predicted from the results confirmed experimental findings on the conformers stability. We suggested that two out of ten possible pathways were observed in the experimental results based on agreement in reaction energy. Eventually, this study will emphasize the importance of considering acetylcholine conformers in its hydrolysis study.

Biocapteurs ampérométriques à cholinestérases pour la détermination des pesticides organophosphorés

The purpose of this study is a comparative presentation of the different types of the amperometric biosensors based on cholinesterases for the determination of organophosphorous pesticides using the bibliographical information of the last 20 years. The study contains the presentation of the structure and properties of the cholinesterases, the main reactions implied in the functioning of the amperometric biosensors, their applications and factors influencing the detection or (and) the inhibition process. The detection limit of the mono- or bi-enzymatic amperometric biosensors are relatively higher than those corresponding with the immunobiosensors or with gas and liquid chromatography, which are still considered as the reference methods. As shown, for many other amperometric biosensors, the Michaelis–Menten's kinetic treatment used for reactions catalyzed by free enzymes can be extended to describe the response of amperometric biosensors based on immobilized cholinesterases. The positive compromise between advantages and drawbacks, as well as the "soft" experimental conditions, point to the amperometric monoenzymatic bioelectrode, as an attractive analytical tool for the detection of organophosphorous pesticides.Key words: amperometric biosensor, acetylcholinesterase, organophosphorous pesticides, kinetic, inhibition.

Theoretical and experimental investigations of electrostatic effects on acetylcholinesterase catalysis and inhibition

The role of electrostatics in the function of acetylcholinesterase (AChE) has been investigated by both theoretical and experimental approaches. Second-order rate constants (kE = k(cat)/Km) for acetylthiocholine (ATCh) turnover have been measured as a function of ionic strength of the reaction medium for wild-type and mutant AChEs. Also, binding and dissociation rate constants have been measured as a function of ionic strength for the respective charged and neutral transition state analog inhibitors m-(N,N,N-trimethylammonio)trifluoroacetophenone (TMTFA) and m-(t-butyl)trifluoroacetophenone (TBTFA). Linear free-energy correlations between catalytic rate constants and inhibition constants indicate that kE for ATCh turnover is rate limited by terminal binding events. Comparison of binding rate constants for TMTFA and TBTFA attests to the sizable electrostatic discrimination of AChE. Free energy profiles for cationic ligand release from the active sites of wild-type and mutant AChEs have been calculated via a model that utilizes the structure of T. californica AChE, a spherical ligand, and energy terms that account for electrostatic and van der Waals interactions and chemical potential. These calculations indicate that EA and EI complexes are not bound with respect to electrostatic interactions, which obviates the need for a 'back door' for cationic ligand release. Moreover, the computed energy barriers for ligand release give linear free-energy correlations with log(kE) for substrate turnover, which supports the general correctness of the computational model.