Recognition of butyrylcholinesterase (EC 3.1.1.8) variants in human serum is essential to identify patients who may be susceptible to a prolonged reaction of suxamethonium and mivacurium, short-acting muscle relaxants. Thus they can be given appropriate advice along with their relatives who may be similarly affected. Therefore, Cholinesterase Unit for detection of individuals, carriers of inher...

To understand the role of glycosylation in the circulation of cholinesterases, we compared the mean residence time of five tissue-derived and two recombinant cholinesterases (injected intravenously in mice) with their oligosaccharide profiles. Monosaccharide composition analysis revealed differences in the total carbohydrate, galactose, and sialic acid contents. The molar ratio of sialic acid t...

Human tissues have two distinct cholinesterase activities: acetylcholinesterase and butyrylcholinesterase. Acetylcholinesterase functions in the transmission of nerve impulses, whereas the physiological function of butyryl-cholinesterase remains unknown. An atypical form of butyrylcholinesterase or the absence of its activity leads to prolonged apnea following administration of the muscle relax...

Human butyrylcholinesterase is a performant stoichiometric bioscavenger of organophosphorous nerve agents. It is either isolated from outdated plasma or functionally expressed in eukaryotic systems. Here, we report the production of active human butyrylcholinesterase in a prokaryotic system after optimization of the primary sequence through the Protein Repair One Stop Shop process, a structure-...

BACKGROUND The circulating cholinesterases acetyl- and butyrylcholinesterase may be suppressed and subsequently released from the brain in acute bacterial meningitis. METHODS We report serum activities of acetylcholinesterase and butyrylcholinesterase in paired arterial and jugular venous samples from seven patients with acute bacterial meningitis and eight healthy controls. Paraoxonase 1, wh...

Background: Aspirin use is extensive, but its short half-life limits bioavailability. Results: Butyrylcholinesterase and PAFAH1b2 hydrolyze aspirin in plasma. Aspirin hydrolysis in plasma varies up to 12-fold from non-genetic modulation of butyrylcholinesterase activity. Conclusion: Two enzymes hydrolyze aspirin in plasma and their contribution varies among individuals. Significance: Aspirin hy...

BACKGROUND Concerns about the safety of paralytics such as succinylcholine to facilitate endotracheal intubation limit their use in prehospital and emergency department settings. The ability to rapidly reverse paralysis and restore respiratory drive would increase the safety margin of an agent, thus permitting the pursuit of alternative intubation strategies. In particular, patients who carry g...

In vivo effects of reversible inhibitors of cholinesterase activity were determined radiometrically in undiluted samples of erythrocytes and plasma. [14C]acetylcholine at substrate saturation, 25 degrees C and pH 7.4 permitted rapid and precise determination of butyrylcholinesterase (EC 3.1.1.8) and acetylcholinesterase (EC 3.1.1.7) activities. Reference values for acetylcholinesterase and buty...

This report presents a comparative description of the acetylcholinesterase and butyrylcholinesterase activities and their molecular forms in primary cultures of retinal pigment epithelium (RPE). Acetylcholinesterase activity increases during differentiation of the cells. Sucrose sedimentation analysis of acetylcholinesterase and butyrylcholinesterase molecular forms revealed the presence of A12...