Relationships between the structure of organophosphorus compounds and their activity as acetylcholinesterase

Related Experiment Video

Updated: Aug 12, 2026

Direct Detection of the Acetate-forming Activity of the Enzyme Acetate Kinase
05:51

Direct Detection of the Acetate-forming Activity of the Enzyme Acetate Kinase

Published on: December 19, 2011

T R Fukuto

    Bulletin of the World Health Organization
    |January 1, 1971
    PubMed

    More Related Videos

    Screening for Thermotoga maritima Membrane-Bound Pyrophosphatase Inhibitors09:11

    Screening for Thermotoga maritima Membrane-Bound Pyrophosphatase Inhibitors

    Published on: November 23, 2019

    Cholinergic Ligand–dependent Modulation of Oxidative Phosphorylation Coupling in Digitonin-permeabilized BE(2)-C Neuroblastoma Cells14:39

    Cholinergic Ligand–dependent Modulation of Oxidative Phosphorylation Coupling in Digitonin-permeabilized BE(2)-C Neuroblastoma Cells

    Published on: April 28, 2026

    Related Concept Videos

    Direct-Acting Cholinergic Agonists: Chemistry and Structure-Activity Relationship01:22

    Direct-Acting Cholinergic Agonists: Chemistry and Structure-Activity Relationship

    Cholinergic agonists or cholinomimetics mimic the action of acetylcholine to stimulate the parasympathetic nervous system. They are categorized into direct-acting and indirect-acting agents. The direct-acting cholinergic drugs induce the parasympathetic response by directly binding to the muscarinic or nicotine receptors. In comparison, the indirect-acting cholinergic drugs prevent acetylcholine hydrolysis, indirectly contributing to the extended parasympathetic response.
    The direct-acting...
    Indirect-Acting Cholinergic Agonists: Chemistry and Structure-Activity Relationship01:29

    Indirect-Acting Cholinergic Agonists: Chemistry and Structure-Activity Relationship

    Indirect-acting cholinergic agonists are agents that interact with the acetylcholinesterase enzyme in the synaptic cleft, preventing the breakdown of acetylcholine into choline and acetate. Consequently, the concentration of acetylcholine in the synaptic cleft increases. These agonists can be classified into reversible and irreversible inhibitors based on their duration of action.
    Reversible inhibitors display short to medium durations of action. Short-acting agents include simple alcohols with...
    Indirect-Acting Cholinergic Agonists: Mechanism of Action01:18

    Indirect-Acting Cholinergic Agonists: Mechanism of Action

    Indirect-acting cholinergic agonists work by interacting with an enzyme called acetylcholinesterase (AChE) in the synaptic cleft. They can be reversible or irreversible inhibitors and have different effects on the enzyme.
    Reversible inhibitors like edrophonium bind to a specific part of the enzyme called the anionic catalytic site. They form noncovalent bonds, which means they are not strongly attached to the enzyme. This creates a temporary and less stable enzyme–inhibitor complex, leading to...
    Indirect-Acting Cholinergic Agonists: Pharmacokinetics01:22

    Indirect-Acting Cholinergic Agonists: Pharmacokinetics

    Indirect-acting cholinergic agonists, or anticholinesterases, enhance the body's cholinergic activity by inhibiting acetylcholine's breakdown. They are categorized as reversible or irreversible agents based on their mechanism of action. They are further classified into short-acting, intermediate-acting, and long-acting agents based on their duration of action.
    Reversible agents containing quaternary amines, such as neostigmine and edrophonium, are not easily absorbed orally because they are...
    Anticholinesterase Agents: Poisoning and Treatment01:26

    Anticholinesterase Agents: Poisoning and Treatment

    Anticholinesterases, also known as cholinesterase inhibitors, work by blocking the breakdown of acetylcholine, leading to its accumulation in the synaptic cleft. This accumulation indirectly enhances both muscarinic and nicotinic actions. These agents are classified as reversible or irreversible based on their mechanism of action.     
    Irreversible agents form a strong bond with the cholinesterase enzyme, making it inactive. The breakdown of the phosphorylated enzyme is slower than the...
    Cholinergic Antagonists: Chemistry and Structure-Activity Relationship01:29

    Cholinergic Antagonists: Chemistry and Structure-Activity Relationship

    Cholinergic antagonists bind to cholinergic receptors and limit the effects of acetylcholine and other cholinergic agonists. Based on the specific cholinergic receptor affinity, these antagonists are classified as muscarinic or nicotinic. Anticholinergics interrupt parasympathetic innervations while sympathetic innervations remain uninterrupted. Muscarinic antagonists are also called 'muscarinic antagonists', 'antimuscarinics', or 'parasympatholytics'. Nicotinic antagonists are called...