Distribution and anchoring of molecular forms of acetylcholinesterase

Molecular forms of acetylcholinesterase exhibit tissue-specific distribution, and each form is anchored to the cell surface via a particular post-translational modification of the catalytic subunit. Nibaldo Inestrosa and Alejandra Perelman review evidence that heparan sulphate proteoglycans are the extracellular matrix receptors for the collagen-tailed enzyme, and that a glycolipid which contains phosphatidylinositol and a 20 kDa hydrophobic peptide participate in the anchoring of the hydrophobic globular forms of acetylcholinesterase to the cell surface.