Enzyme inhibition/inhibitors general concepts

Because of the difficulties encountered, until recently, in obtaining pure acetylcholinesterase, studies of the kinetics of the interaction of this enzyme with substrates and inhibitors have been one of the primary tools for obtaining Information about its active sites. Since the classical studies of Wilson and Nachmansohn, the concept of "anionic" and "esteratlc" sites has become generally accepted. Evidence has now been presented by O Brien et al. , on the basis of inhibition studies with phosphate and phosphorothlolate analogs, that acetylcholinesterase contains a "hydrophobic patch" near the esteratlc site. 

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