Butyrylcholinesterase (BCHE)

Butyrylcholinesterase (BCHE), also known as cholinesterase or BuChE, is an enzyme defined as "pseudo" or "non-neuronal" cholinesterase. Butyrylcholinesterase (BCHE) is widely distributed in the nervous system as well as blood plasma. It is constitutively similar to the neuronal acetylcholinesterase, and is a non-specific cholinesterase which hydrolyses many different choline esters. Butyrylcholinesterase (BCHE) is a glycoprotein of 4 identical subunits, that were arranged as a dimer of dimers with each dimer composed of two identical subunits joined by interchain disulfide bonds. Butyrylcholinesterase (BCHE) behaves principally similar to the true enzyme and thus can play a similar role in nerve conduction, although it participates probably only in relatively slow conductive processes and could be involved in other nervous system functions and in neurodegenerative diseases. It can hydrolyze toxic esters such as cocaine or scavenge organophosphorus pesticides and nerve agents. Purified human serum cholinesterase combines in its active surface an anionic and an esteratic site, similar to true cholinesterase. It has been demonstrated that butyrylcholinesterase (BCHE) may have a greater role in cholinergic transmission than previously surmised, making BChE inhibition an important therapeutic goal in Alzheimer's disease.

Butyrylcholinesterase (BCHE) Related Areas

Enzyme>>Lipid Metabolism Enzymes>>BCHE/Butyrylcholinesteras

Cardiovascular>>Lipid Metabolism>>Lipid Metabolism Enzymes>>BCHE/Butyrylcholinesteras

Butyrylcholinesterase (BCHE) Alternative Names

BCHE, Butyrylcholinesterase, CHE1, E1, acylcholine acylhydrolase, butyrylcholine esterase, choline esterase II, cholinesterase, cholinesterase 1, pseudocholinesterase [Homo sapiens]

Bche, Butyrylcholinesterase, C730038G20Rik, MGC107651, acylcholine acylhydrolase, butyrylcholine esterase, choline esterase II, cholinesterase, pseudocholinesterase [Mus musculus]

Summaries for Butyrylcholinesterase (BCHE)

Entrez Gene summary for BCHE:

Mutant alleles at the BCHE locus are responsible for suxamethonium sensitivity. Homozygous persons sustain prolonged apnea after administration of the muscle relaxant suxamethonium in connection with surgical anesthesia. The activity of pseudocholinesterase in the serum is low and its substrate behavior is atypical. In the absence of the relaxant, the homozygote is at no known disadvantage. [provided by RefSeq, Jul 2008]

Wikipedia summary for Butyrylcholinesterase:

Butyrylcholinesterase (also known as pseudocholinesterase, plasma cholinesterase, BCHE, or BuChE) is a non-specific cholinesterase enzyme that hydrolyses many different choline esters. In humans, it is found primarily in the liver and is encoded by the BCHE gene.
It is very similar to the neuronal acetylcholinesterase, which is also known as RBC or erythrocyte cholinesterase. The term "serum cholinesterase" is generally used in reference to a clinical test that reflects levels of both of these enzymes in the blood. Butyrylcholine is a synthetic compound and does not occur in the body naturally. It is used as a tool to distinguish between acetyl- and butyrylcholinesterase.

Human Butyrylcholinesterase (BCHE) Protein General Information

 

• Protein names: Butyrylcholinesterase
• Sequence length: 602 AA.
• Catalytic activity: An acylcholine + H2O = choline + a carboxylate.
• Sequence similarities: Butyrylcholinesterase belongs to the type-B carboxylesterase /lipase family.
• Enzyme regulation: Butyrylcholinesterase is inhibited by mercury. Butyrylcholinesterase is inhibited by Tabun. Tabun forms a covalent adduct with Ser-226 that becomes irreversible upon aging.
• Subunit structure: Homotetramer; disulfide-linked. Dimer of dimers.
• Subcellular location: Secreted
• Tissue specificity: Detected in blood plasma (at protein level). Present in most cells except erythrocytes.
• Involvement in disease: Defects in BCHE are the cause of butyrylcholinesterase deficiency (BChE deficiency) [MIM:177400]. BChE deficiency is a metabolic disorder characterized by prolonged apnoea after the use of certain anesthetic drugs, including the muscle relaxants succinylcholine or mivacurium and other ester local anesthetics. The duration of the prolonged apnoea varies significantly depending on the extent of the enzyme deficiency. BChE deficiency is a multifactorial disorder. The hereditary condition is transmitted as an autosomal recessive trait.

General information above from UniProt

Function for Butyrylcholinesterase (BCHE) Protein

UniProtKB:

Esterase with broad substrate specificity. Butyrylcholinesterase contributes to the inactivation of the neurotransmitter acetylcholine. Butyrylcholinesterase can degrade neurotoxic organophosphate esters.

Genatlas:

• BCHE hydrolyzes choline esters
• BCHE is butyryl cholinesterase, ApoE4 carrier, regulator of myeloid cells
• BCHE is scavenger against organophosphorus and carbamate componds of the pesticides and cocaine

Homology for human Butyrylcholinesterase (BCHE)

• homolog to murine Bche

Phenotype Information for Butyrylcholinesterase (BCHE)

• Gene/Locus: BCHE, CHE1
• Phenotype: Apnea, postanesthetic

Phenotype Information for Butyrylcholinesterase from OMIM (Online Mendelian Inheritance in Man)

Drugs for Butyrylcholinesterase (BCHE)

Target	Drug Name	Disease	Drug Status
Butyrylcholinesterase	Echothiophate Iodide	Chronic glaucoma	Approved
Butyrylcholinesterase	Hexafluronium bromide	Spasms, Pain	Approved

Drugs for Butyrylcholinesterase from TTD (Therapeutic Targets Database)