MicroRNAs (miRs) have emerged as important gene silencers affecting many target mRNAs. Here, we report the identification of 244 miRs that target the 3'-untranslated regions of different cholinesterase transcripts: 116 for butyrylcholinesterase (BChE), 47 for the synaptic acetylcholinesterase (AChE-S) splice variant, and 81 for the normally rare splice variant AChE-R. Of these, 11 and 6 miRs ta...

Acrylonitrile(AN) is a neurotoxin both in animals and humans, but its effects on acetylcholinesterase (AChE) activity remain controversial. This study aimed to determine the dose-response effects of AN on AChE activity and the modulatory role of ethanol pre-treatment. A total of 144 Kunming mice were randomly divided into 18 groups: nine groups received 5% ethanol in their drinking water, and t...

The objective of the present study was to develop a kinetics of pharmacodynamics model to properly describe and investigate the in vivo interaction between the selective adenosine A(1) agonist N(6)-cyclopentyladenosine (CPA), acetylcholinesterase (AChE) in blood and brain, and the AChE-inhibitor sarin (isopropylmethylphosphonofluoridate). The direct interaction of CPA (2 microM) on the inhibiti...

Acetylcholinesterase (AChE) is highly expressed at sites of nerve-muscle contact where it is regulated at both the transcriptional and post-transcriptional levels. Our understanding of the molecular mechanisms underlying its regulation is incomplete, but they appear to involve both translational and post-translational events as well. Here, we show that Pumilio-2 (PUM2), an RNA binding translati...

BACKGROUND Abnormal levels of the acetylcholinesterase enzyme or aberrations involving the long arm of chromosome 7, harboring the ACHE gene at 7q22, occur in various diseases such as Alzheimer's, Parkinson's, and leukemias. However, the cause(s) of these abnormalities are still unknown. OBJECTIVE To search for the genomic elements and transcriptional processes controlling ACHE gene expressio...

Acetylcholinesterase (AChE) is anchored onto cell membranes by the transmembrane protein PRiMA (proline-rich membrane anchor) as a tetrameric globular form that is prominently expressed in vertebrate brain. In parallel, the PRiMA-linked tetrameric butyrylcholinesterase (BChE) is also found in the brain. A single type of AChE-BChE hybrid tetramer was formed in cell cultures by co-transfection of...

BACKGROUND Deficits in cognitive functioning have been reported in humans exposed to dioxins and dioxin-like compounds. Evidence suggests that dioxins induce cholinergic dysfunction mediated by hypothyroidism. However, little is known about direct effects of dioxins on the cholinergic system. OBJECTIVES We investigated the action of 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (TCDD) on acetylcholines...

The appearance and localization of acetylcholinesterase (AchE) were studied during embryonic development of the leech Helobdella triserialis. Use of a histochemical stain showed that AchE is present in the polar plasms of the uncleaved leech egg. in the course of the first two cleavages, the AchE is transmitted along with the polar plasms mainly to the D blastomere, precursor of mesoderm and ec...

BACKGROUND Many patients with organophosphate poisoning require mechanical ventilation. Muscle acetylcholinesterase (AChE) activity determines the impairment of muscle force generation, and red blood cell (RBC) AChE has been regarded as a surrogate for muscle AChE in organophosphate poisoning. Therefore, this study was conducted to investigate whether RBC AChE at presentation can predict the du...