Reactivation and aging of diphenyl phosphoryl acetylcholinesterase

Acetylcholinesterase (acetylcholine hydrolase, EC 3.1.1.7) is readily in hibited by 10(-5) M diphenylphosphorochloridate even though the inhibitor hydrolyzes in a few seconds. The fluoridate is a much weaker inhibitor. The inhibited enzyme, diphenyl phosphoryl enzyme spontaneously recovers only about 50% of its activity with a half time of about 17 min at pH 7.0 and 6 min at pH 8.0. The fact that only 50% of the original activity returns is due to aging. The rates of reactivation and aging can be very greatly increased by a few percent of an organic solvent. Depending on the solvent even 1% may increase the rates by a factor of 5 or 6. The highest increase in rate was 70-fold. Quaternary NH+4 also increases the rates. Organic solvents and NH+4 also accelerate the reactivation of the much more stable diethyl phosphoryl enzyme derivative.