Acetylcholinesterase inhibitors substrates from acetylcholine

Elucidation of the molecular nature of another cholinergic receptor system, the enzyme acetylcholinesterase. is also being attempted through the use of specific, irreversible inhibitors. Belleau and Tanl have recently demonstrated that N,N-dlmethyl-2-chloro-2 phenylethylamine inactivates erythrocyte acetylcholinesterase when acetylcholine is the substrate.. Other workers have provided evidence that the action of this compound involves alkylation at or near the anionic site of the enzyme, rather then at the esteratlc site. Future studies of this system may well be conducted with pure, crystalline enzyme, if a recent report" of the crystallization of acetylcholinesterase from eel electric tissue can be confirmed. 

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