Attachment of acetylcholinesterase to structures of the motor endplate

The kinetics of AChE solubilization from intact motor endplates of mouse diaphragm, by collagenase, papain and hyaluronidase, was studied in parallel with the ultrastructural localization of AChE in treated neuromuscular junctions. Hyaluronidase did not solubilize more AChE from isolated motor endplate regions than Ringer's solution itself. Residual AChE activity could be demonstrated histochemically in motor endplates even after the plateau of solubilization by collagenase or papain was reached. Less than 35% of junctional AChE is left after collagenase, and less than 20% after papain treatment, as estimated by the percentage of AChE activity left in the isolated endplate region of the diaphragm after protease treatment. Cytochemically, both proteases had a similar effect on postsynaptic AChE. Residual AChE activity was distributed randomly, adhering to the sarcolemma of junctional clefts. Presynaptic AChE localized in the gap between axon terminal and Schwann cell appears to be resistant to collagenase but not to papain treatment. The mode of AChE attachment or the composition of the intercellular material in this gap may differ from that of the primary and secondary clefts.