Protease Inhibitors and Indolamines Selectively Inhibit Cholinesterases in the Histopathologic Structures of Alzheimer's Disease

C. I. Wright, C. Geula, M. M. Mesulam*

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

20 Scopus citations

Abstract

Neurofibrillary tangles and amyloid plaques express acetylcholinesterase (AChE) and butyrylcholinesterase (BChE) activity in Alzheimer's disease. We had found that traditional AChE inhibitors such as BW284C51, tacrine and physostigmine were more potent inhibitors of the AChE in normal axons and cell bodies than of the AChE in plaques and tangles (1). We now report that the reverse pattern is seen with indolamines, carboxypeptidase inhibitor, and the nonspecific protease inhibitor bacitracin. These substances are more potent inhibitors of the cholinesterases in plaques and tangles than of those in normal axons and cell bodies. These results show that the enzymatic properties of plaque and tangle‐associated cholinesterases diverge from those of normal axons and cell bodies. The selective susceptibility to bacitracin and carboxypeptidase inhibitor indicates that the catalytic sites of plaque and tangle‐bound cholinesterases are more closely associated with peptidase or protease‐like properties than the catalytic sites of cholinesterases in normal neurons and axons. This shift in enzymatic affinity may lead to the abnormal protein processing which is thought to play a major role in the pathogenesis of AD. The availability of pharmacological and dietary means for altering brain indolamines raises novel therapeutic possibilities for inhibiting the abnormal cholinesterase activity associated with Alzheimer's disease.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)65-68
Number of pages4
JournalAnnals of the New York Academy of Sciences
Volume695
Issue number1
DOIs
StatePublished - Sep 1993

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • General Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology
  • General Neuroscience
  • History and Philosophy of Science

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'Protease Inhibitors and Indolamines Selectively Inhibit Cholinesterases in the Histopathologic Structures of Alzheimer's Disease'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this