Secreted acetylcholinesterase: non-classical aspects of a classical enzyme

Recent evidence suggests that termination of cholinergic transmission is just one of the many ways in which acetylcholinesterase (AChE) could influence neuronal function. Neuronal AChE can be secreted from several brain regions, while purified AChE possesses several properties (in addition to its cholinesterase activity) that can affect neuronal function, including the abilities to influence certain membrane conductances, enhance excitatory amino acid transmission and hydrolyse peptides. Loss of AChE and its non-classical actions would have a profound effect on brain function in neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer's disease where there is widespread loss of AChE-containing neurons.