| Abstract: | Acetylcholinesterase and butyrylcholinesterase are the only two known cholinesterases. Acetylcholinesterase plays an important part in cholinergic system. It terminates neurotransmission by hydrolysis of transmitter acetylcholine. The role of butyrylcholinesterase is not well understood. It is able to detoxify several compounds such as cocaine, succinylcholine, and so forth. The current review is focused on the application of cholinesterases in biorecognition. Cholinesterases are important markers in the body. Butyrylcholinesterase activity in plasma can serve as a liver function test or specific marker for sensitivity to myorelaxants or liver carcinoma. Both cholinesterases can serve as markers of poisoning by some neurotoxic compounds. Nerve agents (sarin, soman, tabun, VX), some Alzheimer disease drugs (galantamine, huperzine, donepezil, rivastigmine), pesticides (carbofuran, trichlorfon, paraoxon, malaoxon), and natural toxins (aflatoxin, pyridostigmine) can act as inhibitors of butyrylcholinesterase and/or acetylcholinesterase. Devices filled with immobilized cholinesterases can be used for the assay of the aforementioned toxins. In this review, methods for examination of cholinesterases activity in the body and in analytical devices are described. Applications, types of diagnosis, and assays are described as well. |
