The distribution of cholinesterase (Ch-esterase) in isolated myelinated fibers of the frog has been investigated. Quantitative microgasometric measurements have confirmed the previous histochemical observations. Both approaches indicate that in frog nerve fibers acetylcholinesterase (ACh-esterase) is the only or the predominant enzyme when selective inhibitors and different substrates are used:...

Cholesterol esters, which can comprise over 75% of total cholesterol in diets rich in organ meats, must first be hydrolyzed by pancreatic cholesterol esterase (EC 3.1.1.13) before being absorbed (1). In its hydrolytic mode, catalysis by the enzyme involves a classical serine esterase mechanism in which the seroxide anion displaces the sterol moiety to give an acyl-enzyme intermediate, followed ...

The plasma esterase inhibitors alpha2-macroglobulin, alpha1-antitrypsin, C1-inhibitor, antithrombin-heparin cofactor, and, as previously described, soybean trypsin inhibitor (Kunitz) and diisopropylphosphorofluoridate (9) enhance the response of guinea pig macrophages to migration inhibitory factor. To obtain this effect, macrophages are incubated with inhibitors prior to assay. The data sugges...

Ovalbumin is partially homologous in sequence with the proteinase inhibitors alpha 1-proteinase inhibitor and anti-thrombin III. The region of sequence in ovalbumin which corresponds to the reactive sites of these proteinase inhibitors is susceptible to attack by subtilisin, elastase, thermolysin, bromelain, and Bacillus cereus protease. The esterase activity of elastase is not inhibited by ova...

Our previous studies described a newly identified potential of grapefruit juice (GFJ) in mediating pharmacokinetic drug interactions due to its capability of esterase inhibition. The current study identifies the active components in GFJ responsible for its esterase-inhibitory effect. The esterase-inhibitory potential of 10 constitutive flavonoids and furanocoumarins toward p-nitrophenylacetate ...

Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is a progressive neurodegenerative disorder that has no cure because its etiology still unknown, and main treatment the administration of acetylcholinesterase (AChE) inhibitors. The study mechanism action this family compounds critical for design new more potent specific In work, we molecular basis an uncompetitive inhibitor (compound 1, 2β, 3α-dihydroxy-5α-cholestan-6-...

Five flavones possessing one to four phenolic groups were fully phosphorylated efficiently and the obtained compounds showed excellent pancreatic cholesterol esterase (CEase) inhibitory activities with IC(50) in the nanomolar range, which were much more potent than their parent compounds. The inhibition mechanism and kinetic characterization studies indicate that they are irreversible competiti...

Dolichyl ester hydrolase activity is broadly distributed among the organs of the rat. The highest activity was found in spleen, brain, lung, and thyroid tissues, whereas this activity is very low in stomach and intestine. The esterase involved is localized to the lumen of lysosomes and, to some extent, in the plasma membranes. Hydrolysis occurs with both alpha-saturated and alpha-unsaturated po...

Excitable membranes have the special ability of changing rapidly and reversibly their permeability to ions, thereby controlling the ion movements that carry the electric currents propagating nerve impulses. Acetylcholine (ACh) is the specific signal which is released by excitation and is recognized by a specific protein, the ACh-receptor; it induces a conformational change, triggering off a seq...