Acetylcholinesterase: theory of noncompetitive inhibition

The theory of noncompetitive inhibition of acetylcholinesterase based on the binding of inhibitor to the acetylenzyme and the free enzyme was proven correct by demonstrating that tripropylammonium ion increases the steady-state concentration of acetylenzyme, as predicted by the theory. By contrast, the traditional theory that the inhibitor binds to the enzyme-substrate complex and the free enzyme predicts that the amount of acetylenzyme will be drastically reduced when the inhibition is high. A third theory involving all three types of binding remains possible.     

Substrate and dilution effects on the inhibition of acetylcholinesterase by carbamates

1. The kinetics of acetylcholinesterase (EC 3.1.1.7) activity and its inhibition by eserine or by Sevin (1-naphthyl N-methylcarbamate) have been studied over the substrate concentration range 5x10(-8) to 2.5x10(-2)m. 2. Equations are given for inhibition as a function of time, substrate and inhibitor concentrations, and the relevant parameters determined at 25 degrees and 37 degrees . 3. The observed and calculated effects of time, dilution, substrate addition and enzyme concentration were in good agreement and consistent with a steady-state carbamylation by eserine or by Sevin in the presence of excess of inhibitor. 4. The quantitative destruction of either inhibitor at high enzyme concentrations implied by the carbamylation hypothesis has been confirmed experimentally. 5. The importance and possibility of allowing quantitatively for dilution and substrate effects when estimating carbamate inhibition are demonstrated.     

Hyperbolic mixed-type inhibition of acetylcholinesterase by tetracyclic thienopyrimidines

A series of tetracyclic thienopyrimidines (7–14) was prepared and investigated as inhibitors of acetylcholinesterase from Electrophorus electricus acetylcholinesterase (EeAChE), as well as human acetylcholinesterase (hAChE) and human butyrylcholinesterase (hBChE). A new synthetic procedure was employed for the synthesis of the angularly fused heterocycles 7–10. Among them, the presence of a tetrahydropyrido ring with a benzyl rest at the basic nitrogen was required for EeAChE inhibition. A detailed kinetic analysis of the hyperbolic mixed-type inhibition of EeAChE by 9–14 was performed. These heterocyclic compounds inhibited EeAChE with K_i values of less than 3 µM. Most α values were relatively close to 1, indicating a similar affinity of the inhibitor to the free enzyme and the enzyme-substrate complex. Inhibitor 10 displayed a rather uncompetitive pattern of inhibition (α?=?0.47) and a relatively high residual activity of a postulated ternary enzyme-substrate-inhibitor complex (β?=?0.24).     

Acetylcholinesterase. Two types of inhibition by an organophosphorus compound: one the formation of phosphorylated enzyme and the other analogous to inhibition by substrate

1. The kinetics of the reaction of di-(2-chloroethyl) 3-chloro-4-methylcoumarin-7-yl phosphate (haloxon) and related compounds with acetylcholinesterase were studied and found to be unusual. 2. By a progressive reaction haloxon produces a di-(2-chloroethyl)phosphorylated enzyme. The influence of substrate on this reaction leading to a phosphorylated active centre was studied. From competition experiments between inhibitor and substrate values of K(m) for acetylcholine and acetylthiocholine of 0.79mm and 0.23mm respectively were derived. 3. Haloxon also combines with acetylcholinesterase by a non-progressive reaction, producing a complex that is reversible by dilution and by high concentrations of acetylcholine and acetylthiocholine. From this non-progressive reaction the competition between haloxon and substrate was studied, and it was shown that haloxon combines with a site involved in inhibition by substrate. From competition experiments the following dissociation constants were derived: for combination of haloxon and this site K(i) is 4.9mum and for the combination of substrates with this site K(88) values are 12mm and 3.3mm for acetylcholine and acetylthiocholine respectively. 4. The non-phosphorus-containing compound 3-chloro-7-hydroxy-4-methylcoumarin was shown to be a good reagent for the site involved in inhibition by substrate; its dissociation constant for the combination with this site is 30mum. 5. In order to interpret the experimental results, theoretical equations were derived for an enzyme with two binding sites to both of which substrate and inhibitor can combine. The equations correlate the activity of the enzyme with the concentration of substrate and inhibitor, for both progressive and non-progressive inhibition. These equations are applicable to reactions of acetylcholinesterase with organophosphorus compounds, carbamates etc. and may be applicable to other enzymes possessing two binding sites.     

Acetylcholinesterase inhibition by pitofenone: a spasmolytic compound.

Pitofenone, a spasmolytic compound, inhibited the acetylcholinesterase activity from bovine erythrocytes and from electric eel. It is a potent inhibitor of this enzyme from the two sources, with Ki values of 36 and 45 microM, respectively. Of the five compounds structurally related to pitofenone, only those containing a piperidine moiety show acetylcholinesterase inhibition. All these inhibitions are reversible, linear, and noncompetitive in nature. A qualitative correlation between the anticholinesterase and the corresponding antimuscarinic activity for some of these compounds was apparent. Good separation of these two effects would be a desirable feature for newer muscarinic antagonists.     

Lipoxygenase inhibition by novel fatty acid ester from Annona squamosa seeds

Studies on the seeds of Annona squamosa yielded a novel lipoxygenase inhibitor fatty acid ester, (+) - annonlipoxy (1). Compound 1 was screened for its enzyme inhibitory activity against lipoxygenase (E.C.1.14.18.1), exhibiting activity with IC(50) 69.05 +/- 5.06 microm. Baicalein (IC(50) 22.6 +/- 0.5 microm) was used as a positive control. Crude extracts of Annona squamosa fruit pulp and seeds were screened for its enzyme inhibitory activity against lipoxygenase and acetylcholinesterase. The crude ethanolic extract of fruit pulp and seeds of Annona squamosa also exhibited lipoxygenase activity with 22.2 and 26.7% inhibition, while the pet.ether extract of seeds of A. squamosa exhibited 52.7% inhibition at a concentration of 40 microg/200 ml. The crude ethanolic extract of seeds of Annona squamosa was also bioassayed for acetylcholinesterase inhibition and it was found inactive.     

Mechanisms of cholinesterase inhibition by inorganic mercury

The poorly known mechanism of inhibition of cholinesterases by inorganic mercury (HgCl2) has been studied with a view to using these enzymes as biomarkers or as biological components of biosensors to survey polluted areas. The inhibition of a variety of cholinesterases by HgCl2 was investigated by kinetic studies, X-ray crystallography, and dynamic light scattering. Our results show that when a free sensitive sulfhydryl group is present in the enzyme, as in Torpedo californica acetylcholinesterase, inhibition is irreversible and follows pseudo-first-order kinetics that are completed within 1 h in the micromolar range. When the free sulfhydryl group is not sensitive to mercury (Drosophila melanogaster acetylcholinesterase and human butyrylcholinesterase) or is otherwise absent (Electrophorus electricus acetylcholinesterase), then inhibition occurs in the millimolar range. Inhibition follows a slow binding model, with successive binding of two mercury ions to the enzyme surface. Binding of mercury ions has several consequences: reversible inhibition, enzyme denaturation, and protein aggregation, protecting the enzyme from denaturation. Mercury-induced inactivation of cholinesterases is thus a rather complex process. Our results indicate that among the various cholinesterases that we have studied, only Torpedo californica acetylcholinesterase is suitable for mercury detection using biosensors, and that a careful study of cholinesterase inhibition in a species is a prerequisite before using it as a biomarker to survey mercury in the environment.     

Enzyme inhibition activities of Andrachne cardifolia Muell

The crude methanolic extract and various fractions of Andrachne cardifolia Muell, including chloroform, ethyl acetate and n-butanol fractions were subjected to in vitro enzyme inhibition activity against acetylcholinesterase, butyrylcholinesterase, lipoxygenase and urease enzymes. A significant enzyme inhibition activity (40-89%) was shown by the crude methanolic extract and its fractions against lipoxygenase, while low to significant activity (40-71%) against butyrylcholinesterase. The crude methanolic extract and its various fractions demonstrated poor to significant activity (25-73%) against acetylcholinesterase and no activity against urease.     

Competitive irreversible inhibition of enzymes in the presence of a substrate: scope and limitations

Rapid irreversible inhibition of enzymes constitutes a difficult problem and demands sophisticated techniques to meet contemporary expectations of accuracy and precision. Modern computerized, analytical techniques now allow inhibition to be measured in the presence of a chromogenic substrate, the decomposition product of which can be followed by a conventional method and in a continuous mode. This article has been written to fulfill a need for guidelines to aid the designer of experiments for the irreversible inhibition of enzymes. Thus the scope and limitations of the continuous competitive method for the irreversible inhibition of enzymes is examined here. Examples of acetylcholinesterase inhibition by two diagonally different phosphonate inhibitors are used for illustrating accuracy and precision of the competitive irreversible inhibition technique at different levels of enzyme saturation with inhibitor and substrate.     

Spontaneous reactivation of acetylcholinesterase following organophosphate inhibition. II. Characterization of the reactivating components

Repeated cycles of inhibition by a variety of organophosphates followed by spontaneous reactivation reveal a component of electric eel acetylcholinesterase (acetylcholine hydrolase, EC 3.1.1.7) which preferentially reactivates. That the observed enzymatic activity truly resides in acetylcholinesterase is indicated by its sensitivity to a specific inhibitor and by molecular weights for subunits and native enzyme which are approximately the same as those for the major fraction of enzymatic activity which behaves in the classical manner. The Km values for phenyl acetate of the two components are similar but the rate constant for covalent bond formation, k2, with isopropyl m-nitrophenyl methylphosphonate is greatly reduced in the spontaneously reactivating species. The molecular basis for these observations is discussed.     

Identification of isoenzymes in cholinesterase preparations using kinetic data of organophosphate inhibition

Commercial preparations of acetylcholinesterase (EC 3.1.1.7) and of cholinesterase (EC 3.1.1.8) were characterized by organophosphate inhibition. Cholinesterase activities were inhibited by varying organophosphate concentration and time of inhibition. Bimolecular rate constants were determined by plotting log activity vs inhibitor concentration or inhibition time. Inhibition of acetylcholinesterase from bovine erythrocytes by diethyl p-nitrophenyl phosphate (Paraoxon), diisopropylphosphorofluoridate (DFP), and N,N′-diisopropylphosphorodiamidic fluoride (Mipafox) in semilogarithmic plots showed a linear decay of activity. Inhibition of acetylcholinesterase from electric eel (Electrophorus electricus) and of cholinesterases from horse serum and from human serum did not show linear characteristics, indicating the presence of more than one single enzyme in these preparations. The corresponding inhibition curves were resolved by subtraction of exponential functions. In each case two different activity components were identified and characterized in respect to partial activity, substrate specificity, and reactivity with organophosphorous compounds. The suitability of the method for application on crude homogenates is discussed.     

Selective inhibition of human acetylcholinesterase by galanthamine in vitro and in vivo

We investigated the inhibition of human cholinesterases by galanthamine, an alkaloid of the common snowdrop (galanthus nivalis). In vitro, the compound showed potent enzyme inhibition and 50-fold selectivity for acetylcholinesterase (EC 3.1.1.7) as opposed to butyrylcholinesterase (EC 3.1.1.8). There was no difference between enzyme inhibition by galanthamine in whole blood and separated fractions of plasma and erythrocytes. We conclude that galanthamine does not accumulate in large amounts in red blood cells. In vivo, administration of galanthamine in a healthy volunteer and in a patient who underwent long-term treatment confirmed the selectivity of galanthamine for acetylcholinesterase.     

Lipoxygenase inhibition by novel fatty acid ester from Annona squamosa seeds

Studies on the seeds of Annona squamosa yielded a novel lipoxygenase inhibitor fatty acid ester, (+) - annonlipoxy (1). Compound 1 was screened for its enzyme inhibitory activity against lipoxygenase (E.C.1.14.18.1), exhibiting activity with IC₅₀ 69.05 ± 5.06 μm. Baicalein (IC₅₀ 22.6 ± 0.5 μm) was used as a positive control. Crude extracts of Annona squamosa fruit pulp and seeds were screened for its enzyme inhibitory activity against lipoxygenase and acetylcholinesterase. The crude ethanolic extract of fruit pulp and seeds of Annona squamosa also exhibited lipoxygenase activity with 22.2 and 26.7% inhibition, while the pet.ether extract of seeds of A. squamosa exhibited 52.7% inhibition at a concentration of 40 μg/200 ml. The crude ethanolic extract of seeds of Annona squamosa was also bioassayed for acetylcholinesterase inhibition and it was found inactive.     

Fluorinated aldehydes and ketones acting as quasi-substrate inhibitors of acetylcholinesterase.

1. The inhibition of acetylcholinesterase (acetylcholine hydrolase, EC 3.1.1.7) by compounds containing trifluoromethyl-carbonyl groups was investigated and related to the effects observed with structurally similar, non-fluorinated chemicals. 2. Compounds that in aqueous solution readily form hydrates inhibit acetylcholinesterase in a time-dependent process. On the other hand non-hydrated, carbonyl-containing compounds showed rapid and reversible, time-independent enzyme inactivation when assayed under steady state conditions. 3. m-N,N,N-Trimethylammonium-acetophenone acts as a rapid and reversible, time-independent, linear competitive inhibitor of acetylcholinesterase (Ki = 5.0 . 10(-7) M). 4. The most potent enzyme inhibitor tested in this series was N,N,N,-trimethylammonium-m-trifluoroacetophenone. It gives time-dependent inhibition and the concentration which inactivates eel acetylcholinesterase to 50% of the original activity after 30 min exposure is 1.3 . 10(-8) M. The bimolecular rate constant for this reaction is 1.8 . 10(6) 1 . mol-1 . min-1. The enzyme-inhibitor complex is very stable as the inhibited enzyme after 8 days of dialysis is reactivated to 20% only. This compound represents a quasi-substrate inhibitor of acetylcholinesterase.     

Comparison of salt effects on the reactions of acetylcholinesterase with cationic and anionic inhibitors

The influence of inorganic salts on the inhibition of acetylcholinesterase by charged organophosphorous inhibitors has been studied. It has been shown that the salt effect on the reaction of acetylcholinesterase with anionic bis(p-nitrophenyl) phosphate is determined by the influence of added salts on the activity coefficient of the inhibitor. In contrast to the salt effects on the reaction of acetylcholinesterase with cationic compounds, it does not include contribution from the enzyme charges. The smaller salt effect in the case of anionic inhibitor can be explained assuming that the anionic inhibitor does not form a non-covalent complex with the enzyme before the phosphorylation step of the reaction. Comparison of salt effects on the substrate turnover showed that in the case of cholinesterases from natural sources they are larger than in the case of enzymes expressed in recombinant cell clones. The enhanced salt effects may result from post-translational modification of the enzyme.     

Inhibition of fly head acetylcholinesterase by bis-[(m-hydroxyphenyl)trimethylammonium iodide] esters of polymethylenedicarbamic acids

A series of bis-[(m-hydroxyphenyl)trimethylammonium iodide] esters of polymethylenedicarbamic acids and a number of (m-hydroxyphenyl)trimethylammonium iodide esters of straight-chain N-alkylcarbamic acids have been examined as inhibitors of acetylcholinesterase from fly head. Evidence is presented suggesting that inhibition of acetylcholinesterase by the bis-carbamates is due to carbamoylation of the enzyme, as is generally thought to be the case with esters of N-alkylcarbamic acids. Inhibition is irreversible. The (m-hydroxyphenyl)trimethylammonium iodide ester of N-hexylcarbamic acid also inhibits fly head acetylcholinesterase irreversibly. There is therefore no need to implicate a second functional group in bis-carbamate esters to explain the irreversible inhibition of the enzyme. An unusual feature of the inhibition is that inhibition lines do not pass through 100% enzyme activity at t=0, except for rather low concentrations of inhibitor (<10mum for the octamethylene compound). Also, inhibition lines tend towards a maximum slope as inhibitor concentration is increased. The first observation indicates complex-formation, even in the presence of high concentrations of substrate, and by using measurements of inhibition at relatively high inhibitor concentrations, affinity constants K'(a) have been calculated. K'(a) varies from 0.1mum for the dodecamethylene compound to 10mum for the tetramethylene compound, in the presence of 3.75mm-acetylthiocholine, indicating high affinity for the enzyme. The second observation shows that, owing to this high affinity, the enzyme becomes saturated with inhibitor under the experimental conditions employed, and from the limiting slope values of the carbamoylation rate constant (k(2)) have been calculated. k(2) varies from 0.15min(-1) for the tetramethylene compound to 1min(-1) for the decamethylene compound. Variations of potency in this series are therefore mainly due to changes in affinity (100-fold) rather than in carbamoylation rate (sevenfold). The observation that large molecules may acylate the enzyme raises certain problems, which are discussed.     

Modification of substrate inhibition of synaptosomal acetylcholinesterase by cardiotoxins

Different types of cardiotoxin (I-V and n) were isolated and purified from the venom of the Taiwan cobra (Naja naja atra). The effects of these cardiotoxins were studied on membrane-bound acetylcholinesterase, which was isolated from a sheep's brain cortex. The results showed that cardiotoxins I-III, V, and n activated the enzyme by modification of substrate inhibition, but cardiotoxin IV's reaction was different. The inhibition and activation of acetylcholinesterase were linked to the functions of the hydrophobicity index, presence of a cationic cluster, and the accessible arginine residue. Our results indicate that Cardiotoxins have neither a cationic cluster nor an arginine residue in their surface area of loop I; therefore, in contrast to fasciculin, cardiotoxins are attached by loop II to the peripheral site of the enzyme. As a result, fasciculin seems to stabilize nonfunctional conformation, but cardiotoxins seem to stabilize the functional conformation of the enzyme. Based on our experimental and theoretical findings, similar secondary and tertiary structures of cardiotoxins and fasciculin seem to have an opposite function once they interact with acetylcholinesterase.     

ANISOMYCIN,ACETOXYCYCLOHEXIMIDE, CYCLOHEXIMIDE,AND PUROMYCIN AS INHIBITORS OF RAT BRAIN ACETYLCHOLINESTERASE IN VITRO1

A kinetic analysis of the interaction of anisomycin, acetoxycycloheximide, cycloheximide, and puromycin with acetylcholinesterase (acetylcholine acetyl-hydrolase, EC 3.1.1.7) in rat brain homogenate shows that all of these protein synthesis inhibitors are also inhibitors or this enzyme. Puromycitl aminonucleoside, a puromycin analog without antibiotic activity, was also found to be an inhibitor of acetylcholinesterase activity much like puromycin. Anisomycin appeared to be a competitive inhibitor whereas all of the other compounds showed mixed inhibition. The apparent 10.5 values for inhibition of rat brain acetylcholinesterase at 50 μM substrate were: anisomycin, 3 mM; acetoxycycloheximide, 1 mM; cycloheximide, 2.2 mM; puromycin, 0.5 mM and puromycin aminonucleoside, 0.6 mM.     

Enzyme inhibition activities of Teucrium royleanum

The crude methanolic extract and chloroform, ethyl acetate and n-butanol fractions of Teucrium royleanum were examined as inhibitors of actylcholinesterase, butyrylcholinesterase, lipoxygenase and urease. A significant enzyme inhibition activity (52-83%) was shown by the crude methanolic extract and its fractions against acetylcholinesterase, while low to outstanding enzyme inhibitory activity was shown (19-93%) against butyrylcholinesterase. The crude methanolic extract and its various fractions demonstrated low activity against lipoxygenase and inactive against urease.     

Molecular recognition by acetylcholinesterase at the peripheral anionic site: structure-activity relationships for inhibitions by aryl carbamates

Substituted phenyl-N-butyl carbamates (1-9) are potent irreversible inhibitors of Electrophorus electricus acetylcholinesterase. Carbamates 1-9 act as the peripheral anionic site-directed irreversible inhibitors of acetylcholinesterase by the stop-time assay in the presence of a competitive inhibitor, edrophonium. Linear relationships between the logarithms of the dissociation constant of the enzyme inhibitor adduct (Ki), the inactivation constant of the enzyme-inhibitor adduct (k2), and the bimolecular inhibition constant (k(i)) for the inhibition of Electrophorus electricus acetylcholinesterase by carbamates 1-9 and the Hammett substituent constant (sigma), are observed, and the reaction constants (ps) are -1.36, 0.35 and -1.01, respectively. Therefore, the above reaction may form a positive charged enzyme-inhibitor intermediate at the peripheral anionic site of the enzyme and may follow the irreversible inactivation by a conformational change of the enzyme.