Some enzymatic properties of human brain acetylcholinesterase

Daphnia intoxicated by nerve agent tabun can be treated using human antidotes

Application of human antidotes against nerve agent intoxications to microcrustacean Daphnia magna (Crustacea, Cladocera) intoxicated by a nerve agent tabun (O-ethyl-N,N-dimethylphosphoramidocyanidate) and their efficacy was investigated. It was found that antidotes can be successfully applied to intoxicated daphnids. Three different treatment regimens were tested: the combination of atropine and acetylcholinesterase reactivator (trimedoxime was chosen), atropine only and trimedoxime alone, too. The most efficient was the combination of atropine and trimedoxime followed by treatment with atropine only. The proportion of recovered animals increased with time not only in treated groups but also in the control as well. This can be explained by a spontaneous reactivation of tabun-inhibited cholinesterase in daphnids probably indicating a difference between mammalian and crustacean cholinesterases.

The multiple forms of brain acetylcholinesterase. II. A suggestion of their functional importance

The pattern of the multiple forms of the acetylocholinesterase (AChE, E.C. 3.1.1.7) of the rat brain is investigated using polyacrylamide gradient micro-gel electrophoresis with regard to a possible functional importance of this individual forms. The patterns of the AChE-forms of selected regions of the CNS are compared and certain differences could be shown. After increased cholinergic input (into the hippocampus by electrical stimulation of the nc. septi medialis) an aggregation of AChE subunits is detectable. Subletal intoxication with an irreversible inhibitor of AChE is followed by a faster recovery of the smaller forms. A suggestion of a possible functional role of the multiple forms of AChE is discussed.

Dose any enzyme follow the Michaelis-Menten equation?

A literature search has been conducted to see to what extent steady-state kinetics studies in the period 1965-1976 have revealed deviations from Michaelis-Menten kinetics. It was found that over 800 enzymes have been reported as giving complex curves for a variety of reasons and a group by group classification of all these enzymes has been carried out listing all the types of variations reported and the authors' explanations. In addition, for highly complex curves, we have determined the minimum degree of the rate equation. There were very few determined attempts to demonstrate adherence to the Michaelis-Menten equation over a wide variety of experimental conditions and substrate concentration and almost invariably detailed experimental work revealed unsuspected complexities. For these reasons, it is concluded that the assumption that most enzymes follow the Michaelis-Menten equation can not be supported by an appeal to the literature.

Analysis of the forms of acetylcholinesterase from adult mouse brain

The solubilization of 80% of the acetylcholinesterase activity of mouse brain was performed by repeated 2h incubations of homogenates at 37 degrees C in an aqueous medium. Analysis of the soluble extract by gel filtration on Sephadex G-200 showed that up to 80% of the enzyme activity was eluted in a peak which was estimated to consist of molecules of about 74000mol.wt. This peak was called the monomer form of the enzyme. After 3 days at 4 degrees C, the soluble extract was re-analysed and was eluted from the column in four peaks of about 74000, 155000, 360000 and 720000 mol.wt. Since the total activity of the enzyme in these peaks was the same as that in the predominantly monomer elution profile of fresh enzyme, we concluded that the monomer had aggregated, possibly into dimers, tetramers and octomers. Extracts of the enzyme were analysed by polyacrylamide-gel electrophoresis and the resulting multiple bands of enzyme activity on gels were shown to separate according to their molecular sizes, that is by molecular sieving. All these forms had similar susceptibilities to the inhibitors eserine, tetra-isopropyl pyrophosphoramide and compound BW 284c51 [1,5-bis-(4-allyldimethylammoniumphenyl)pentan-3-one dibromide]. Thus the forms of the enzyme in mouse brain which can be detected by gel filtration and polyacrylamide-gel electrophoresis may all be related to a single low-molecular-weight form which aggregates during storage. This supports similar suggestions made for the enzyme in other locations.