title: On functions of cholinesterases during embryonic development.
abstract: Expression of cholinesterase (ChE) activity during phases of embryonic development is a general phenomenon in embryonic tissues. To elucidate the role(s) of ChEs during embryonic development, one line of research followed the assumption of a primitive muscarinic system involved in morphogenesis (Hohmann et al., 1995). This means that ChE functioning during development fits into the classical cholinergic neurotransmitter system: acetylcholine (ACh), as a signal, binds to ACh receptors and then is degraded by acetylcholinesterase (AChE) as the terminating enzyme. However, this is just one of the possible mechanisms. The other line of research was driven by evidence for noncholinergic functions of ChE proteins (AChE and butyrylcholinesterase [BChE]). There is accumulating data that other sites on AChE could exert nonclassical roles related to cell differentiation, neurite outgrowth, and adhesion.
authors.affiliation: Department of Developmental Biology, Darmstadt University of Technology, 64287 Darmstadt, Germany. paraoanu@BIO.TU-Darmstadt.de
authors.forename: Laura E
authors.initials: LE
authors.lastname: Paraoanu
authors.forename: Gunnar
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Steinert
authors.forename: Janine
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Klaczinski
authors.forename: Michaela
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Becker-Röck
authors.forename: Afrim
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Bytyqi
authors.forename: Paul G
authors.initials: PG
authors.lastname: Layer
mesh_terms: D000110:Acetylcholinesterase / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D000818:Animals; D002091:Butyrylcholinesterase / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D015815:Cell Adhesion Molecules / Q000378:metabolism; D002454:Cell Differentiation; D002455:Cell Division; D047108:Embryonic Development / Q000502:physiology*; D016501:Neurites / Q000502:physiology
chemical_list: D015815:Cell Adhesion Molecules; D000110:Acetylcholinesterase; D002091:Butyrylcholinesterase