Introduction

Exposure to chemical nerve agents, pesticides and certain drugs (anesthetics, cocaine and therapeutical drugs) reduces the activity of red blood cell (RBC) acetylcholinesterase (AChE). The RBC-AChE can be used as a biomarker to monitor suppressed and or increased AChE function in the peripheral and central nervous system (9). Acetylcholinesterase (AChE) is one of the most important enzymes involved in nerve transmission. The enzyme is bound to cellular membranes of excitable tissue (synaptic junction, endoplasmic reticulum, etc) 1-3. Acute toxicity to humans and animals through inhibition of AChE by both nerve gases and an important class of pesticides has long been a field of intensive scientific investigation 4,5. AChE inhibitors have also been used clinically as Alzheimer’s treatments (e.g., tacrine (tetrahydroaminoacridine)) 6 and are the subject of increasing interest in various disease processes and treatment strategies 7,8. However, both environmental detection of AChE inhibitors and development of modulators of AChE enzymatic activity as drugs have been hampered by the difficulty and complexity of the current assay methods.

Key Benefits

• Non Radioactive assay can monitor multiple time points to follow kinetics.
• One-step, no wash assay.
• Versatile: Can Detect AChE activity in RBC’s, Saliva and Tissue Lysates.
• Readout – 96 well Fluorescent Plate Reader.