Human Cholinesterases and Anticholinesterases

Molecular biological approaches have deepened our understanding of the role that cholinesterases play in regulating the action of the neurotransmitter acetylcholine, in embryonic cell development and in tumour development. This text reviews the latest molecular studies of cholinesterase expression, structure and function. "Human Cholinesterases and Anticholinesterases" is conveniently divided into three parts, each of which presents different points of view on human cholinesterase research. The first part discusses the biochemical and biological backgound on human CHEs, taking into consideration our recently acquired molecular know-how; the second displays an updated report of the molecular characterization of the human cholinesterase genes and their multi-leveled regulation; and the third part offers a cumulative discussion of the scientific, ecological and clinical implications of these findings. This volume features primary sequence information based on crystallographic data and discusses structure-function relationships from recombinant human cholinesterases, focusing on how they reveal catalytic mechanism and inhibitor interactions. It also investigates how chromosomal mapping and newly-discovered mutations in the human cholinesterase genes may predict variable drug responses and sensitivity to organophosphorous poisons and succinylcholineapnea, In addition, it considers "in vivo" amplifications and antisense oligonucleotides. The book includes a comprehensive bibliography, in addition to a list of generic drug names.