The alpha/beta-Hydrolases (ABH) are a structural class of proteins that are found widespread in nature and includes enzymes that can catalyze various reactions in different substrates. The catalytic versatility of the ABH fold enzymes, which has been a valuable property in protein engineering applications, is based on a similar acid-base-nucleophile catalytic mechanism. In our research, we are concerned with the structure that surrounds the key units of the catalytic machinery, and we have previously found conserved structural organizations that coordinate the catalytic acid, the catalytic nucleophile and the residues of the oxyanion hole. Here, we explore the architecture that surrounds the catalytic histidine at the active sites of enzymes from 40 ABH fold families, where we have identified six conserved interactions that coordinate the catalytic histidine next to the catalytic acid and the catalytic nucleophile. Specifically, the catalytic nucleophile is coordinated next to the catalytic histidine by two weak hydrogen bonds, while the catalytic acid is directly involved in the coordination of the catalytic histidine through by two weak hydrogen bonds. The imidazole ring of the catalytic histidine is coordinated by a CH-pi contact and a hydrophobic interaction. Moreover, the catalytic triad residues are connected with a residue that is located at the core of the active site of ABH fold, which is suggested to be the fourth member of a "structural catalytic tetrad". Besides their role in the stability of the catalytic mechanism, the conserved elements of the catalytic site are actively involved in ligand binding and affect other properties of the catalytic activity, such as substrate specificity, enantioselectivity, pH optimum and thermostability of ABH fold enzymes. These properties are regularly targeted in protein engineering applications, and thus, the identified conserved structural elements can serve as potential modification sites in order to develop ABH fold enzymes with altered activities.
Title: Distinctive structural motifs co-ordinate the catalytic nucleophile and the residues of the oxyanion hole in the alpha/beta-hydrolase fold enzymes Dimitriou PS, Denesyuk AI, Nakayama T, Johnson MS, Denessiouk K Ref: Protein Science, 28:344, 2019 : PubMed
The alpha/beta-hydrolases (ABH) are among the largest structural families of proteins that are found in nature. Although they vary in their sequence and function, the ABH enzymes use a similar acid-base-nucleophile catalytic mechanism to catalyze reactions on different substrates. Because ABH enzymes are biocatalysts with a wide range of potential applications, protein engineering has taken advantage of their catalytic versatility to develop enzymes with industrial applications. This study is a comprehensive analysis of 40 ABH enzyme families focusing on two identified substructures: the nucleophile zone and the oxyanion zone, which co-ordinate the catalytic nucleophile and the residues of the oxyanion hole, and independently reported as critical for the enzymatic activity. We also frequently observed an aromatic cluster near the nucleophile and oxyanion zones, and opposite the ligand-binding site. The nucleophile zone, the oxyanion zone and the residue cluster enriched in aromatic side chains comprise a three-dimensional structural organization that shapes the active site of ABH enzymes and plays an important role in the enzymatic function by structurally stabilizing the catalytic nucleophile and the residues of the oxyanion hole. The structural data support the notion that the aromatic cluster can participate in co-ordination of the catalytic histidine loop, and properly place the catalytic histidine next to the catalytic nucleophile.
The alpha/beta-hydrolases are a family of acid-base-nucleophile catalytic triad enzymes with a common fold, but using a wide variety of substrates, having different pH optima, catalyzing unique catalytic reactions and often showing improved chemical and thermo stability. The ABH enzymes are prime targets for protein engineering. Here, we have classified active sites from 51 representative members of 40 structural ABH fold families into eight distinct conserved geometries. We demonstrate the occurrence of a common structural motif, the catalytic acid zone, at the catalytic triad acid turn. We show that binding of an external ligand does not change the structure of the catalytic acid zone and both the ligand-free and ligand-bound forms of the protein belong to the same catalytic acid zone subgroup. We also show that the catalytic acid zone coordinates the position of the catalytic histidine loop directly above its plane, and consequently, fixes the catalytic histidine in a proper position near the catalytic acid. Finally, we demonstrate that the catalytic acid zone plays a key role in multi-subunit complex formation in ABH enzymes, and is involved in interactions with other proteins. As a result, we speculate that each of the catalytic triad residues has its own supporting structural scaffold, similar to the catalytic acid zone, described above, which together form the extended catalytic triad motif. Each scaffold coordinates the function of its respective catalytic residue, and can even compensate for the loss of protein function, if the catalytic amino acid is mutated.
To explore the origins and consequences of tetraploidy in the African clawed frog, we sequenced the Xenopus laevis genome and compared it to the related diploid X. tropicalis genome. We characterize the allotetraploid origin of X. laevis by partitioning its genome into two homoeologous subgenomes, marked by distinct families of 'fossil' transposable elements. On the basis of the activity of these elements and the age of hundreds of unitary pseudogenes, we estimate that the two diploid progenitor species diverged around 34 million years ago (Ma) and combined to form an allotetraploid around 17-18 Ma. More than 56% of all genes were retained in two homoeologous copies. Protein function, gene expression, and the amount of conserved flanking sequence all correlate with retention rates. The subgenomes have evolved asymmetrically, with one chromosome set more often preserving the ancestral state and the other experiencing more gene loss, deletion, rearrangement, and reduced gene expression.
To investigate the mechanism for low pH adaptation by a carboxylesterase, structural and biochemical analyses of EstFa_R (a recombinant, slightly acidophilic carboxylesterase from Ferroplasma acidiphilum) and SshEstI (an alkaliphilic carboxylesterase from Sulfolobus shibatae DSM5389) were performed. Although a previous proteomics study by another group showed that the enzyme purified from F. acidiphilum contained an iron atom, EstFa_R did not bind to iron as analyzed by inductively coupled plasma MS and isothermal titration calorimetry. The crystal structures of EstFa_R and SshEstI were determined at 1.6- and 1.5-A resolutions, respectively. EstFa_R had a catalytic triad with an extended hydrogen bond network that was not observed in SshEstI. Quadruple mutants of both proteins were created to remove or introduce the extended hydrogen bond network. The mutation on EstFa_R enhanced its catalytic efficiency and gave it an alkaline pH optimum, whereas the mutation on SshEstI resulted in opposite effects (i.e. a decrease in the catalytic efficiency and a downward shift in the optimum pH). Our experimental results suggest that the low pH optimum of EstFa_R activity was a result of the unique extended hydrogen bond network in the catalytic triad and the highly negatively charged surface around the active site. The change in the pH optimum of EstFa_R happened simultaneously with a change in the catalytic efficiency, suggesting that the local flexibility of the active site in EstFa_R could be modified by quadruple mutation. These observations may provide a novel strategy to elucidate the low pH adaptation of serine hydrolases.
Cryptophyte and chlorarachniophyte algae are transitional forms in the widespread secondary endosymbiotic acquisition of photosynthesis by engulfment of eukaryotic algae. Unlike most secondary plastid-bearing algae, miniaturized versions of the endosymbiont nuclei (nucleomorphs) persist in cryptophytes and chlorarachniophytes. To determine why, and to address other fundamental questions about eukaryote-eukaryote endosymbiosis, we sequenced the nuclear genomes of the cryptophyte Guillardia theta and the chlorarachniophyte Bigelowiella natans. Both genomes have >21,000 protein genes and are intron rich, and B. natans exhibits unprecedented alternative splicing for a single-celled organism. Phylogenomic analyses and subcellular targeting predictions reveal extensive genetic and biochemical mosaicism, with both host- and endosymbiont-derived genes servicing the mitochondrion, the host cell cytosol, the plastid and the remnant endosymbiont cytosol of both algae. Mitochondrion-to-nucleus gene transfer still occurs in both organisms but plastid-to-nucleus and nucleomorph-to-nucleus transfers do not, which explains why a small residue of essential genes remains locked in each nucleomorph.
The high substrate specificity of fluoroacetate dehalogenase was explored by using crystallographic analysis fluorescence spectroscopy and theoretical computations. A crystal structure for the Asp104Ala mutant of the enzyme from Burkholderia sp FA1 complexed with fluoroacetate was determined at 1.2 A resolution. The orientation and conformation of bound fluoroacetate is different from those in the crystal structure of the corresponding Asp110Asn mutant of the enzyme from Rhodopseudomonas palustris CGA009 reported recently J Am Chem Soc 2011 133 7461. The fluorescence of the tryptophan residues of the wild-type and Trp150Phe mutant enzymes from Burkholderia sp FA1 incubated with fluoroacetate and chloroacetate was measured to gain information on the environment of the tryptophan residues. The environments of the tryptophan residues were found to be different between the fluoroacetate and chloroacetate-bound enzymes this would come from different binding modes of these two substrates in the active site. Docking simulations and QM/MM optimizations were performed to predict favorable conformations and orientations of the substrates. The F atom of the substrate is oriented toward Arg108 in the most stable enzyme-fluoroacetate complex. This is a stable but unreactive conformation in which the small O-C-F angle is not suitable for the S(N)2 displacement of the F ion. The cleavage of the C-F bond is initiated by the conformational change of the substrate to a near attack conformation NAC in the active site The second lowest energy conformation is appropriate for NAC the C-O distance and the O-C-F angle are reasonable for the S(N 2 reaction. The activation energy is greatly reduced in this conformation because of three hydrogen bonds between the leaving F atom and surrounding amino acid residues. Chloroacetate cannot reach the reactive conformation due to the longer C-Cl bond this results in an increase of the activation energy despite the weaker C-Cl bond.
Familial lecithin-cholesterol acyltransferase (LCAT) deficiency (FLD) is a rare genetic disease characterized by corneal opacities, normocytic anemia, dyslipidemia, and proteinuria progressing to chronic renal failure. In all FLD cases, a mutation has been found in the coding sequence of the LCAT gene. FLD is clinically distinguished from an acquired form of LCAT deficiency by the presence of corneal opacities. Here we describe a 36-year-old woman presenting with clinical, pathological, and laboratory data compatible with FLD. Her mother and elder sister had corneal opacities. However, genetic analysis revealed there were no mutations in the LCAT coding sequences and no alterations in LCAT mRNA expression. Furthermore, we were unable to find any underlying conditions that may lead to LCAT deficiency. The present case therefore demonstrates that LCAT deficiency may be caused by factors other than mutations in the coding sequence and we suggest that a translational or posttranslational mechanism may be involved.
The biological dehalogenation of fluoroacetate carried out by fluoroacetate dehalogenase is discussed by using quantum mechanical/molecular mechanical (QM/MM) calculations for a whole-enzyme model of 10 800 atoms. Substrate fluoroacetate is anchored by a hydrogen-bonding network with water molecules and the surrounding amino acid residues of Arg105, Arg108, His149, Trp150, and Tyr212 in the active site in a similar way to haloalkane dehalogenase. Asp104 is likely to act as a nucleophile to attack the alpha-carbon of fluoroacetate, resulting in the formation of an ester intermediate, which is subsequently hydrolyzed by the nucleophilic attack of a water molecule to the carbonyl carbon atom. The cleavage of the strong C-F bond is greatly facilitated by the hydrogen-bonding interactions between the leaving fluorine atom and the three amino acid residues of His149, Trp150, and Tyr212. The hydrolysis of the ester intermediate is initiated by a proton transfer from the water molecule to His271 and by the simultaneous nucleophilic attack of the water molecule. The transition state and produced tetrahedral intermediate are stabilized by Asp128 and the oxyanion hole composed of Phe34 and Arg105.
Title: Catalytic role of proton transfers in the formation of a tetrahedral adduct in a serine carboxyl peptidase Guo H, Wlodawer A, Nakayama T, Xu Q Ref: Biochemistry, 45:9129, 2006 : PubMed
Quantum mechanical/molecular mechanical molecular dynamics and 2D free energy simulations are performed to study the formation of a tetrahedral adduct by an inhibitor N-acetyl-isoleucyl-prolyl-phenylalaninal (AcIPF) in a serine-carboxyl peptidase (kumamolisin-As) and elucidate the role of proton transfers during the nucleophilic attack by the Ser278 catalytic residue. It is shown that although the serine-carboxyl peptidases have a fold resembling that of subtilisin, the proton transfer processes during the nucleophilic attack by the Ser residue are likely to be more complex for these enzymes compared to the case in classical serine proteases. The computer simulations demonstrate that both general base and acid catalysts are required for the formation and stabilization of the tetrahedral adduct. The 2D free energy maps further demonstrate that the proton transfer from Ser278 to Glu78 (the general base catalyst) is synchronous with the nucleophilic attack, whereas the proton transfer from Asp164 (the general acid catalyst) to the inhibitor is not. The dynamics of the protons at the active site in different stages of the nucleophilic attack as well as the motions of the corresponding functional groups are also studied. It is found that the side chain of Glu78 is generally rather flexible, consistent with its possible multifunctional role during catalysis. The effects of proton shuffling from Asp82 to Glu78 and from Glu32 to Asp82 are examined, and the results indicate that such proton shuffling may not play an important role in the stabilization of the tetrahedral intermediate analogue.
Title: Molecular cloning and characterization of a thermostable carboxylesterase from an archaeon, Sulfolobus shibatae DSM5389: non-linear kinetic behavior of a hormone-sensitive lipase family enzyme Ejima K, Liu J, Oshima Y, Hirooka K, Shimanuki S, Yokota Y, Hemmi H, Nakayama T, Nishino T Ref: J Biosci Bioeng, 98:445, 2004 : PubMed
A gene coding for an esterase (SshEstI, 915 bp in length) of the thermoacidophilic archaeon Sulfolobus shibatae DSM5389 was cloned, sequenced, and overexpressed in Escherichia coli JM109 cells as a soluble, catalytically active protein. The deduced amino acid sequence of SshEstI was consistent with a protein containing 305 amino acid residues with a molecular mass of 33 kDa. Sequence comparison studies indicated that SshEstI could be a member of the hormone-sensitive lipase family, in that it had the highest sequence similarity to esterases from Sulfolobus solfataricus (90% identity) and Archaeoglobus fulgidus (42%) and a lipase from Pseudomonas sp. B11-1 (38%). The recombinant enzyme was highly thermostable and retained more than 70% of its initial activity after incubation at 90 degrees C and pH 7.0 for 30 min. The recombinant enzyme catalyzed the hydrolysis of p-nitrophenyl (p-NP) esters with C2-C16 acyl chains but not the hydrolysis of triacylglycerides such as tributyrin and triolein. The enzymatic hydrolysis of p-NP acetate proceeded in a linear manner with time, whereas that of p-NP esters with acyl chains of C5 or longer showed a biphasic profile, where a rapid release of p-nitrophenol ( approximately 3 min) was followed by a slow, sustained release. These non-linear kinetics may be explained in terms of a very slow, presteady-state burst phenomenon of p-nitrophenol release or a hysteretic behavior of SshEstI with these substrates.
Title: Cold-active esterase from Psychrobacter sp. Ant300: gene cloning, characterization, and the effects of Gly-->Pro substitution near the active site on its catalytic activity and stability Kulakova L, Galkin A, Nakayama T, Nishino T, Esaki N Ref: Biochimica & Biophysica Acta, 1696:59, 2004 : PubMed
The gene encoding an esterase (PsyEst) of Psychrobacter sp. Ant300, a psychrophilic bacterium isolated from Antarctic soil, was cloned, sequenced, and expressed in Escherichia coli. PsyEst, which is a member of hormone-sensitive lipase (HSL) group of the lipase/esterase family, is a cold-active, themolabile enzyme with high catalytic activity at low temperatures (5-25 degrees C), low activation energy (e.g., 4.6 kcal/mol for hydrolysis of p-nitrophenyl butyrate), and a t(1/2) value of 16 min for thermal inactivation during incubation at 40 degrees C and pH 7.9. A three-dimensional structural model of PsyEst predicted that Gly(244) was located in the loop near the active site of PsyEst and that substitution of this amino-acid residue by proline should potentially rigidify the active-site environment of the enzyme. Thus, we introduced the Gly(244)-->Pro substitution into the enzyme. Stability studies showed that the t(1/2) value for thermal inactivation of the mutant during incubation at 40 degrees C and pH 7.9 was 11.6 h, which was significantly greater than that of the wild-type enzyme. The k(cat)/K(m) value of the mutant was lower for all substrates examined than the value of the wild type. Moreover, this amino-acid substitution caused a shift of the acyl-chain length specificity of the enzyme toward higher preference for short-chain fatty acid esters. All of these observations could be explained in terms of a decrease in active-site flexibility brought about by the mutation and were consistent with the hypothesis that cold activity and thermolability arise from local flexibility around the active site of the enzyme.
Title: Cloning, heterologous expression, renaturation, and characterization of a cold-adapted esterase with unique primary structure from a psychrotroph Pseudomonas sp. strain B11-1 Suzuki T, Nakayama T, Choo DW, Hirano Y, Kurihara T, Nishino T, Esaki N Ref: Protein Expr Purif, 30:171, 2003 : PubMed
A gene coding for an esterase (PsEst1, 1911bp in length) of the psychrotrophic bacterium Pseudomonas sp. B11-1 isolated from Alaskan soil was cloned and sequenced. The deduced amino acid sequence revealed a protein of 637 amino acid residues with a molecular mass of 69 kDa. Although the expression product, PsEst1, showed no appreciable sequence similarity (less than 15% identity) to any known proteins with the established biochemical functions, it is expected to be related to the alpha/beta hydrolase superfamily because it shared sequence motifs that have been identified with this superfamily. For example, a unique 'nucleophilic elbow' motif, -Gly(36)-Asp-Ser-Leu-Asn(40)-, was identified, and Ser(38) was predicted to constitute a catalytic triad with Asp(162) and His(303). PsEst1 was overexpressed using a T7 RNA polymerase transcription (pET21a) system in the Escherichia coli BL21(DE3) cells as an inclusion body. A soluble denatured form of the enzyme was purified to homogeneity in the presence of 8M urea, and the catalytically active form of the enzyme could be obtained by subsequent removal of urea by dialysis, where the addition of 0.1% Triton X-100 was essential for the efficient renaturation of the enzyme. To our knowledge, this was the first example of the successful renaturation of the recombinant cold-adapted enzyme. The enzyme efficiently hydrolyzed vinyl and aryl esters with the C4-C6 acyl chain. The activation energy of the enzymatic p-nitrophenyl butyrate hydrolysis (20.1 kcal/mol at 10 degrees C) was significantly lower than the value (79.9 kcal/mol) of the mesophilic lipase. It was observed that the K(m) values for p-nitrophenyl butyrate in the growth temperature range of strain B11-1 (5-15 degrees C) were lower than those at higher temperatures.
Title: Primary structure and catalytic properties of a cold-active esterase from a psychrotroph, Acinetobacter sp. strain No. 6. isolated from Siberian soil Suzuki T, Nakayama T, Kurihara T, Nishino T, Esaki N Ref: Biosci Biotechnol Biochem, 66:1682, 2002 : PubMed
We cloned a gene coding for a cold-active esterase from a genomic library of Acinetobacter sp. strain No. 6, a psychrotroph isolated from Siberian soil. The gene, aest, encoded a protein of 301 amino acid residues, the deduced sequence of which had less than 17% identity to sequences of known esterases and lipases. However, the esterase seemed to belong to the alpha/beta hydrolase superfamily, because it contained a sequence, Gly-Xaa-Ser-Xaa-Gly (with Xaa an arbitrary amino acid residue), found in most serine hydrolases of this superfamily. Sequence comparison earlier suggested a weak phylogenetic relationship of gene product AEST to the EST group of the esterase-lipase family, which has been found only in eukaryotes. The aest gene was expressed in Escherichia coli BL21(DE3) cells under the control of the T7 promoter, and the expression product was purified to homogeneity and characterized. It catalyzed the hydrolysis of esters with short-chain acyl groups and had lower activation energy and lower thermostability than do mesophilic enzymes, as expected from the cold-adapted nature of this enzyme.
A lipolytic bacterium, strain no. 6, was isolated from Siberian tundra soil. It was a gram-negative coccoid rod capable of growing at 4 degrees C but not at 37 degrees C and was identified as a psychrotrophic strain of the genus Acinetobacter. Strain no. 6 extracellularly produced a lipolytic enzyme that efficiently hydrolyzed triglycerides such as soybean oil during bacterial growth even at 4 degrees C; it degraded 60% of added soybean oil (initial concentration, 1% w/v) after cultivation in LB medium at 4 degrees C for 7 d. Thus, the bacterium is potentially applicable to in-situ bioremediation or bioaugumentation of fat-contaminated cold environments. We partially purified the lipolytic enzyme from the culture filtrate by acetone fractionation and characterized it. The enzyme preparation contained a single species of cold-active lipase with significant activity at 4 degrees C, which was 57% of the activity at the optimum temperature (20 degrees C). The enzyme showed a broad specificity toward the acyl group (C8-C16) of substrate ethyl esters.
Title: Neurochemical effects of 3-[1-(phenylmethyl)-4-piperidinyl]-1-(2,3,4,5-tetrahydro-1H-1-b enzazepin-8-yl)-1-propanone fumarate (TAK-147), a novel acetylcholinesterase inhibitor, in rats Hirai K, Kato K, Nakayama T, Hayako H, Ishihara Y, Goto G, Miyamoto M Ref: Journal of Pharmacology & Experimental Therapeutics, 280:1261, 1997 : PubMed
We examined the neurochemical effects of 3-[1-(phenylmethyl)-4-piperidinyl]-1-(2,3,4,5-tetrahydro-1H-1-benzaze pin-8-yl)-1-propanone fumarate (TAK-147), a novel acetylcholinesterase (AChE) inhibitor in vitro and in vivo. TAK-147 showed a potent and reversible inhibition of AChE activity in homogenates of the rat cerebral cortex (IC50 = 51.2 nM), and was 3.0- and 2.4-fold more potent than tacrine and physostigmine, respectively. By contrast, TAK-147 was the least potent inhibitor of butyrylcholinesterase activity in rat plasma (IC50 = 23,500 nM). Tacrine and physostigmine inhibited butyrylcholinesterase activity potently and nonselectively. TAK-147 showed a moderate inhibition of muscarinic M1 and M2 receptor binding with K(i) values of 234 and 340 nM, respectively. TAK-147 showed very weak or no inhibition of high-affinity choline uptake, nicotinic receptor binding and choline acetyltransferase activity. In ex vivo experiments, oral administration of TAK-147 at doses ranging from 1 to 10 mg/kg induced a statistically significant and dose-dependent decrease in AChE activity in the cerebral cortex. Of the monoaminergic systems, TAK-147 moderately inhibited uptake of noradrenaline and serotonin with IC50 values of 4020 and 1350 nM, respectively. TAK-147 also inhibited ligand binding at alpha-1, alpha-2 and serotonin 2 receptors with K(i) values of 324, 2330 and 3510 nM, respectively, whereas it showed only weak activities on D1, D2 and serotonin 1A receptor bindings. Oral administration of TAK-147 (3 mg/kg) significantly accelerated the turnover rates of dopamine, noradrenaline and serotonin in the rat brain. These results suggest that TAK-147 activates the central cholinergic system by specific inhibition of AChE activity without affecting peripheral butyrylcholinesterase activity, and that TAK-147 also moderately activates the monoaminergic systems.
Effect of TAK-147, a novel acetylcholinesterase (AChE) inhibitor, on cerebral energy metabolism was investigated using an in vivo 31P-magnetic resonance spectroscopy (31P-MRS) technique and the autoradiographic 2-deoxy-[14C]-D-glucose method in aged Fischer 344 rats. We revealed that high-energy phosphate metabolites, phosphocreatine (PCr) and ATP, in the brain decreased gradually with aging and that significant decrement of cerebral PCr and ATP was observed from 13- and 8.5-month-old in comparison with those of 2.5-month-old rats, respectively. Daily oral administration of TAK-147 (1 mg/kg) for 40 days increased PCr and ATP levels in aged rats (29-month-old). To determine the site at which TAK-147 acts to increase high-energy phosphate metabolism, we investigated the rate of local cerebral glucose utilization (LCGU) in various brain regions. The rate of LCGU decreased in almost all brain regions in aged rats (28 months of age), and the decrease was significant in 29 out of the 35 regions. When TAK-147 was administered orally to the aged rats, the levels were dose dependently increased, especially in the auditory cortex. These results indicate that TAK-147 increases cerebral energy metabolism in aged rats.
Title: Central cholinergic agents. IV. Synthesis and acetylcholinesterase inhibitory activities of omega-[N-ethyl-N-(phenylmethyl)amino]-1-phenyl-1-alkanones and their analogues with partial conformational restriction Ishihara Y, Miyamoto M, Nakayama T, Goto G Ref: Chem Pharm Bull (Tokyo), 41:529, 1993 : PubMed
Inhibitors of acetylcholinesterase (AChE) have been designed based on a working hypothesis of the enzyme's active site. These compounds were tested for their inhibitory activities on AChE and omega-[N-ethyl-N-(phenylmethyl)amino]-1-phenyl-1-alkanones (3) were found to be potent inhibitors. Various analogues of 3 were prepared to study the effect on AChE inhibition of partial restriction of conformation. Compounds with potent AChE inhibition were further evaluated in terms of central selectivity: the ratio of central action (ameliorating effect on scopolamine-induced memory impairment using a T-maze alternation task) to peripheral action.
