Comparison of protocols for measuring activities of human blood cholinesterases by the Ellman method.

This paper presents a protocol for routine assays of human blood cholinesterase activities which separates erythrocytes from plasma by centrifugation and measures acetylcholinesterase activity in unwashed erythrocytes and butyrylcholinesterase activity in the plasma. The recommended substrate for both enzymes is 1.0 mM acetylthiocholine. The protocol is compared with other two recommended protocols for the activity measurements of the two enzymes using the Ellman method. The paper discusses the advantages and disadvantages of each and concludes with a proposal for an international agreement between laboratories for the evaluation of a standardized protocol.

Inhibition of acetylcholinesterase by three new pyridinium compounds and their effect on phosphonylation of the enzyme.

Three new mono-pyridinium compounds were prepared: 1-phenacyl-2-methylpyridinium chloride (1), 1-benzoylethylpyridinium chloride (2) and 1-benzoylethylpyridinium-4-aldoxime chloride (3) and assayed in vitro for their inhibitory effect on human blood acetylcholinesterase (EC 3.1.1.7, AChE). All the three compounds inhibited AChE reversibly; their binding affinity for the enzyme was compared with their protective effect (PI) on AChE phosphonylation by soman and VX. Compound 1 was found to bind to both the catalytic and the allosteric (substrate inhibition) sites of the enzyme with estimated dissociation constants of 6.9 microM (Kcat) and 27 microM (Kall), respectively. Compound 2 bound to the catalytic site with Kcat = 59 microM and compound 3 only to the allosteric site with Kall = 328 microM. PI was evaluated from phosphonylation measured in the absence and in presence of the compounds applied in a concentration corresponding to their Kcat or Kall value, and was also calculated from theoretical equations deduced from the reversible inhibition of the enzyme. Compounds 1 and 3 protected the enzyme from phosphonylation by soman and VX, whereas no protection was observed in the presence of compound 2 under the same conditions. Irrespective of the binding sites to AChE, PI for compounds 1 and 3 evaluated from phosphonylation agreed with PI calculated from reversible inhibition. Compound 3 was found to be a weak reactivator of methylphosphonylated AChE with Kr = 1.1 x 10(2) L mol-1 min-1.

Amino acid residues involved in the interaction of acetylcholinesterase and butyrylcholinesterase with the carbamates Ro 02-0683 and bambuterol, and with terbutaline.

In order to identify amino acids involved in the interaction of acetylcholinesterase (AChE; EC 3.1.1.7) and butyrylcholinesterase (BChE; EC 3.1.1.8) with carbamates, the time course of inhibition of the recombinant mouse enzymes BChE wild-type (w.t.), AChE w.t. and of 11 site-directed AChE mutants by Ro 02-0683 and bambuterol was studied. In addition, the reversible inhibition of cholinesterases by terbutaline, the leaving group of bambuterol, was studied. The bimolecular rate constant of AChE w.t. inhibition was 6.8 times smaller by Ro 02-0683 and 16000 times smaller by bambuterol than that of BChE w.t. The two carbamates were equipotent BChE inhibitors. Replacement of tyrosine-337 in AChE with alanine (resembling the choline binding site of BChE) resulted in 630 times faster inhibition by bambuterol. The same replacement decreased the inhibition by Ro 02-0683 ten times. The difference in size of the choline binding site in the two w.t. enzymes appeared critical for the selectivity of bambuterol and terbutaline binding. Removal of the charge with the mutation D74N caused a reduction in the reaction rate constants for Ro 02-0683 and bambuterol. Substitution of tyrosine-124 with glutamine in the AChE peripheral site significantly increased the inhibition rate for both carbamates. Substitution of phenylalanine-297 with alanine in the AChE acyl pocket decreased the inhibition rate by Ro 02-0683. Computational docking of carbamates provided plausible orientations of the inhibitors inside the active site gorge of mouse AChE and human BChE, thus substantiating involvement of amino acid residues in the enzyme active sites critical for the carbamate binding as derived from kinetic studies.

An explanation for the different inhibitory characteristics of human serum butyrylcholinesterase phenotypes deriving from inhibition of atypical heterozygotes.

The time course of inhibition of butyrylcholinesterase (EC 3.1.1.8) by the dimethylcarbamate Ro 02-0683 in sera taken from patients heterozygous for the usual (U), atypical (A), K or J variants was followed using propionylthiocholine as substrate. Data obtained were used to determine rate constants of inhibition together with the contribution made by each variant to total enzyme activity. The findings substantiate earlier reports that J and K mutations lead to quantitative changes in the concentration of usual enzyme in contrast to the qualitative changes of the atypical variant. The contribution of the atypical enzyme to the total activity in serum from UA, AK and AJ heterozygotes was respectively 17-20, 24-31 and 34-53%. The altered ratios of atypical to usual, K or J enzyme in UA, AK and AJ together with the constants on the usual enzyme alone, explain the differences in observed inhibitor numbers which enable these heterozygotes to be identified.

3-Hydroxyquinuclidinium derivatives: synthesis of compounds and inhibition of acetylcholinesterase.

Four compounds were prepared: 3-hydroxy-1-methylquinuclidinium iodide (I), 3-(N,N-dimethylcarbamoyloxy)-1-methylquinuclidinum iodide (II), and two conjugates of I and II with 2-hydroxyiminomethyl-3-methylimidazole in which two parts of the molecule were linked by -CH2-O-CH2- (III and IV). III and IV are new compounds and their synthesis and physical data were given. All compounds were tested as inhibitors of human erythrocyte acetylcholinesterase (EC 3.1.1.7, AChE). The enzyme activity was measured in 0.1 M phosphate buffer (pH 7.4) at 10 and 37 degrees C with acetylthiocholine (ATCh) as the substrate. The obtained enzyme/inhibitor dissociation constants were between 0.05 and 0.5 mM at 10 degrees C and between 0.2 and 0.6 mM at 37 degrees C. At both temperatures compounds III and IV had higher affinities for the enzyme than compounds I and II and this difference was more pronounced at 10 than at 37 degrees C. The carbamates II and IV were also progressive AChE inhibitors. For compound II the rate constants of inhibition were 6300 and 2020 M(-1) min(-1) at 37 and 10 degrees C, respectively. Compound IV was a very weak carbamoylating agent with rate constants of inhibition of 100 and 63 M(-1) min(-1) at 37 and 10 degrees C, respectively. The oxime group in compounds III and IV hydrolyzed ATCh at rates of 23 and 3.2 M(-1) min(-1) at 37 and 10 degrees C, respectively.

Quinuclidinium-imidazolium compounds: synthesis, mode of interaction with acetylcholinesterase and effect upon Soman intoxicated mice.

Four compounds were prepared: 3-oxo-1-methylquinuclidinium iodide (I), 2-hydroxyiminomethyl-1,3-dimethylimidazolium iodide (II) and two conjugates of I and II linked by -(CH2)3- (III) and -CH2-O-CH2- (IV). The aim was to evaluate separately the properties of I and II as opposed to III and IV, which contain both moieties in the same molecule. All four compounds were reversible inhibitors of acetylcholinesterase (AChE; EC 3.1.1.7). The enzyme/inhibitor dissociation constants for the catalytic site ranged from 0.073 mM (II) to 1.6 mM (I). The dissociation constant of I for the allosteric (substrate inhibition) site was 4.8 mM. Possible binding of the other compounds to the allosteric site could not be measured because II, III and IV reacted with the substrate acetylthiocholine (ATCh) and at high ATCh concentrations the non-enzymic reaction interfered with the enzymic hydrolysis of ATCh. The rate constants for the non-enzymic ATCh hydrolysis were between 23 and 37 l/mol per min. All four compounds protected AChE against phosphorylation by Soman and VX. The protective index (PI) of I (calculated from binding of I to both, catalytic and allosteric sites in AChE) agreed with the measured PI; this confirms that allosteric binding contributes to the decrease of phosphorylation rates. The PI values obtained with III and IV were higher than those predicted by the assumption of their binding to the AChE catalytic site only. The toxicity (i.p. LD50) of compounds I, II, III and IV for mice was 0.21, 0.68, 0.49 and 0.77 mmol/kg body wt. respectively. All four compounds protected mice against Soman when given (i.p.) together with atropine 1 min after Soman (s.c.). One-quarter of the LD50 dose fully protected mice (survival of all animals) against 2.52 (IV), 2.00 (I and III) and 1.58 (II) LD50 doses of Soman.

Identification of the contents and the shelf-life of indicator tubes from field kits for detection of organophosphorus compounds in the air.

Indicator tubes from field kits for detection of organophosphorus compounds in the air were found on the territory of Croatia, in barracks liberated during the war years of 1991/1992, and were analysed during 1993/95. The detection kit consisted of glass indicator tubes with two sealed vials within each tube, a device for opening the tubes and breaking the vials, and an air sampling pump. The tubes were marked with serial numbers and expiry dates (1974-1992), but the description as to their contents was unavailable. The aim of this study was to identify the contents of the indicator tubes and to establish whether they were still suitable for detection of organophosphorus compounds. One vial was found to contain a cholinesterase (EC 3.1.1.7) preparation, while the other vial contained a non-thiocholine substrate and a pH-sensitive indicator (most probably cresol red). Applying DDVP as an organophosphorus cholinesterase inhibitor, it was found that all sets of indicator tubes were suitable for use regardless of the indicated expiry dates. Furthermore, the same tubes were found suitable for detection of organophosphorus compounds in water.

Catalytic properties and distribution profiles of paraoxonase and cholinesterase phenotypes in human sera.

Paraoxonase activities (322 healthy subjects) measured in the absence of ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA) had a polymodal distribution profile with 60% of the subjects in the low activity mode; the activity measured in the presence of EDTA had a unimodal skewed distribution. Cholinesterase (ChE) activities (365 healthy subjects) had a unimodal, slightly skewed distribution. Patients with dementia (74) and patients with hyperlipidaemia (159) had different median paraoxonase and ChE activities than healthy subjects and all activity profiles had a higher skewness. The ChE variants usual (UU), fluoride resistant (FS) and atypical (AA) had the same affinity for the studied charged and uncharged ligands. The variants differed in rates of inhibition by the charged organophosphates and carbamates.

Catalytic properties of rabbit serum esterases hydrolyzing esterified monosaccharides.

Rabbit serum and one enzyme fraction isolated from rabbit serum by column chromatography (Fraction II) were used as catalysts in regioselective hydrolysis of radiolabelled pivaloylated monosaccharides (Piv = Me3CCO). The hydrolysis of 14C-labelled methyl 2-O-pivaloyl-(2-MP)-, 6-O-pivaloyl (6-MP)-, 2,6-di-O-pivaloyl-(2,6-DP) alpha-D- glucopyranosides and methyl 2-acetamido-2-deoxy-3,6- di-O-pivaloyl-(3,6-DPNAc) alpha-D-glucopyranosides, was studied, as well as that of the non-sugar substrates butyrylthiocholine, thiophenylbutyrate, phenylacetate and paraoxon. The specific activities of 2,6-DP, 3,6-DPNAc, butyrylthiocholine and thiophenylbutyrate were higher in Fraction II than in native sera, while those of phenylacetate and paraoxon were lower. Inhibition studies were done using the substrates mentioned and five different inhibitors, namely bis(p-nitrophenyl phosphate) (BNPP), eserine, paraoxon, HgCl2 and EDTA. The hydrolysis of 2,6-DP and 3,6-DPNAc was not inhibited by HgCl2 and only slightly by EDTA. Paraoxon, eserine and BNPP were progressive inhibitors of the hydrolysis of the two sugar substrates, and the pattern of inhibition resembled closely the inhibition of butyrylthiocholine and thiophenylbutyrate hydrolysis. This result applied to both, native serum and Fraction II. It was concluded that esterases in rabbit serum which hydrolyze pivaloylated sugar substrates belong to the category of serine esterases. Kinetic parameters (KM and Vmax), effects of temperature and pH on activity of esterases from Fraction II were also determined for the hydrolysis of sugar substrates.

Cholinesterases in rabbit serum.

1. Rabbit serum was shown to contain two cholinesterases which hydrolysed acetylthiocholine and butyrylthiocholine and one cholinesterase which hydrolysed only butyrylthiocholine. 2. The three enzymes were identified by the kinetics of heat inactivation and kinetics of phosphorylation by the organophosphate VX. 3. Using selective inhibitors (iso-OMPA, eserine, BNPP and BW-284C51) it was shown that the hydrolysis of acetylthiocholine and butyrylthiocholine in untreated native serum had properties of acetylcholinesterase (EC 3.1.1.7), butyrylcholinesterase (EC 3.1.1.8) and also some properties of carboxylesterase (EC 3.1.1.1). 4. Separation of proteins (on PAA-gels) in untreated native serum gave four bands with acetylthiocholine and three with butyrylthiocholine. 5. The two cholinesterases hydrolysing both substrates corresponded to the slow moving bands on the gel. 6. The fastest moving band hydrolysing only butyrylthiocholine could be attributed to the cholinesterase least sensitive to VX.