KINETIC STUDIES ON THE HYDROLYSIS OF BENZOYLCHOLINE BY HUMAN SERUM CHOLINESTERASE

Abstract

Benzoylcholine stands out from other known substrates of serum cholinesterase because of its high apparent affinity for this enzyme combined with a rapid rate of destruction. The reaction kinetics of the hydrolysis of benzoylcholine can be studied by ultraviolet spectrophotometry, since the absorbance decreases in proportion to the concentration of substrate. Kinetic data obtained by measuring initial reaction rates, and by analyzing continuous hydrolysis curves, are the same within the range of experimental error. The enzymatic data are compatible with the assumption that in the presence of high substrate concentrations a complex consisting of esterase and two substrate molecules is formed. This complex is hydrolyzed more slowly than the complex containing one molecule of substrate which is formed at low concentrations of benzoylcholine. Alkaline hydrolysis of benzoylcholine follows the kinetics of a first order reaction.