Nozawa_1980_J.Pharmacobiodyn_3_321

A simple direct spectrophotometric method for the determination of butyrylcholinesterase EC 3.1.1.8 and arylesterase EC 3.1.1.2 activities has been developed New chromogenic substrates 3 carboxypropyl)trimethylammonium iodide o-nitrophenyl ester I and 3 carboxypropyl)trimethylammonium iodide p-nitrophenyl ester II as well as new fluorogenic substrate 3-carboxypropyl)trimethylammonium iodide 4'-methylumbelliferyl ester III were used in this study Horse serum butyrylcholinesterase equally catalyzed hydrolysis of the compounds I II and III Hydrolysis of these compounds by trypsin chymotrypsin acetylcholinesterase and carboxylesterase was negligible or quite slow By human serum butyrylcholinesterase however only the compound I was preferentially hydrolyzed The compound III by contrast was found to be a specific substrate for arylesterase of human serum without being affected by the butyrylcholinesterase All these measurements were carried out readily and efficiently by analyzing highly colored products with I and II and highly fluorescent product with III