Hydrophobic Interaction Between the Acyl Moiety of Choline Esters and the Active Site of Acetylcholinesterase

Existence of a binding site for choline esters with an acyl chain of various sizes was examined by comparing the inhibitory potency of the respective compound. In contrast to acetylcholine, which showed a pure competitive pattern of inhibition, choline esters with an acyl chain of a long size ($C{\geq}5$) expressed a mixed type of inhibition. Binding of choline esters containing a long chain ($C_7-C_{12}$) to the hydrophobic region in the active site is deduced from a linear relationship between the $K_{iE}$ value and the size of acyl moiety, and a good hydrophobicity relationship. In addition, the non-competitive component in the inhibition of acetylcholinesterase seems to be due to the interaction of choline esters with both the hydrophobic site and the trimethylammonium-binding site in the active center of the acetylated acetylcholinesterase.