acetylcholinesterase (Yt blood group) | |||||||
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![]() Diagram of Pacific electric ray acetylcholinesterase. From PDB: 1EA5. | |||||||
Identifiers | |||||||
Symbol | ACHE | ||||||
Alt. symbols | YT | ||||||
NCBI gene | 43 | ||||||
HGNC | 108 | ||||||
OMIM | 100740 | ||||||
RefSeq | NM_015831 | ||||||
UniProt | P22303 | ||||||
Other data | |||||||
EC number | 3.1.1.7 | ||||||
Locus | Chr. 7 q22 | ||||||
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butyrylcholinesterase | |||||||
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Identifiers | |||||||
Symbol | BCHE | ||||||
Alt. symbols | CHE1, CHE2, E1 | ||||||
NCBI gene | 590 | ||||||
HGNC | 983 | ||||||
OMIM | 177400 | ||||||
RefSeq | NM_000055 | ||||||
UniProt | P06276 | ||||||
Other data | |||||||
EC number | 3.1.1.8 | ||||||
Locus | Chr. 3 q26.1-26.2 | ||||||
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The enzyme cholinesterase (EC 3.1.1.8, choline esterase; systematic name acylcholine acylhydrolase) catalyses the hydrolysis of choline-based esters:
Several of these serve as neurotransmitters.[1] Thus, it is either of two enzymes that catalyze the hydrolysis of these cholinergic neurotransmitters, such as breaking acetylcholine into choline and acetic acid.[1] These reactions are necessary to allow a cholinergic neuron to return to its resting state after activation. For example, in muscle contraction, acetylcholine at a neuromuscular junction triggers a contraction; but for the muscle to relax afterward, rather than remaining locked in a tense state, the acetylcholine must be broken down by a choline esterase. The main type for that purpose is acetylcholinesterase (also called choline esterase I[2] or erythrocyte cholinesterase); it is found mainly in chemical synapses and red blood cell membranes. The other type is butyrylcholinesterase (also called choline esterase II[2] or plasma cholinesterase); it is found mainly in the blood plasma.