Cholinesterase Activity Assay Kit (Colorimetric)

Cholinesterase (ChE) consists of a group of enzymes that hydrolyze choline esters. There are two ChE isoenzymes in blood: acetylcholinesterase (AChE; EC 3.1.1.7), also known as erythrocytes or true ChE, which is found mainly in red blood cells; and butyrylcholinesterase (BChE; EC 3.1.1.8), also known as plasma ChE or pseudo-ChE, which is present in plasma. Blood AChE or BChE activity would be selectively reduced by exposing them to poisonous chemical agents, insecticides such as organophosphates or carbamates, anesthetics, and a variety of therapeutic drugs including donepezil or rivastigmine which are used for treating Alzheimer’s diseases. Therefore, Blood Cholinesterases (ChE=AChE+BChE) are potential biomarkers of suppressed and/or increased central and peripheral nervous system activity and tools for confirming possible therapeutics. Since plasma BChE and erythrocyte AChE can be selectively inhibited by certain insecticides or drugs, quantification of both isoenzymes’ activities is important. BioVision’s cholinesterase activity kit combines the specific AChE and BChE substrates and a selective BChE inhibitor to measure and distinguish AChE and BChE activities in Whole Blood samples without separating plasma from erythrocytes. The principle is based on the ability of AChE and BChE to hydrolyze their respective substrates and produce thiocholine. Thiocholine reacts with 5,5’-dithiobis(2-nitrobenzoic acid) (DTNB) generating a yellow chromophore (TNB) that can be quantified at 412 nm. It is simple, easy to implement, and useful in clinical research to monitor exposure to anti-ChE compounds in Blood Samples.