title: From protein to peptides: a spectrum of non-hydrolytic functions of acetylcholinesterase.
abstract: Acetylcholinesterase (AChE), a member of the α/β-hydrolase fold superfamily of proteins, is a serine hydrolase responsible for the hydrolysis of the well studied neurotransmitter acetylcholine (ACh). However, it is becoming clear that AChE has a range of actions other than this 'classical' role. Non-classical AChE functions have been identified in apoptosis, stress-responses, neuritogenesis, and neurodegeneration. Furthermore, these non-classical roles are attributable not only to the native protein, which appears to act as a mediary binding protein under a number of circumstances, but also to peptides cleaved from the parent protein. Peptides cleaved from AChE can act as independent signalling molecules. Here we discuss the implications of non-hydrolytic functions of this multi-tasking protein.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacology, University of Oxford, Mansfield Rd, Oxford, OX1 3QT, UK. amy.halliday@pharm.ox.ac.uk
authors.forename: Amy C
authors.initials: AC
authors.lastname: Halliday
authors.forename: Susan A
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Greenfield
mesh_terms: D000110:Acetylcholinesterase / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology*; D000818:Animals; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology; D002448:Cell Adhesion / Q000235:genetics; D002471:Cell Transformation, Neoplastic / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D006868:Hydrolysis; D008954:Models, Biological; D016501:Neurites / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology; D010455:Peptides / Q000378:metabolism*; D054730:Protein Interaction Domains and Motifs / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology; D011506:Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D013312:Stress, Physiological / Q000235:genetics
chemical_list: D010455:Peptides; D011506:Proteins; D000110:Acetylcholinesterase