Comparative aspects of the purification and properties of cholinesterases

Recent years have seen great progress in the purification and characterization of cholinesterases. Investigation has indicated the existence of two principal groups: a fairly homogeneous group of acetylcholinesterases and a group of enzymes that utilize butyrylcholine, propionycholine, or benzoylcholine as substrates and that differ widely in their properties.This paper reviews the different types of cholinesterase and their sources, the importance of a proper choice of substrate in cholinesterase studies, methods for the purification of cholinesterases, and some of the properties of these enzymes.