acetylcholinesterase

American  

[uh-seet-l-koh-luh-nes-tuh-reys, -reyz, uh-set-, as-i-tl-] / əˌsit lˌkoʊ ləˈnɛs təˌreɪs, -ˌreɪz, əˌsɛt-, ˌæs ɪ tl- /

noun

Biochemistry.

1. an enzyme that hydrolyzes the neurotransmitter acetylcholine: its action is blocked by nerve gases and certain drugs.

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acetylcholinesterase British  

/ ˈæsɪtaɪl-, əˈsiːtaɪlˌkəʊliːnˈɛstərˌeɪz /

noun

1. an enzyme in nerve cells that is responsible for the destruction of acetylcholine and thus for switching off excitation of the nerve

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Etymology

Origin of acetylcholinesterase

First recorded in 1945–50; acetylcholine + esterase

Example Sentences

That said, he finds the data provided—that drowned ants exhibited high levels of acetylcholinesterase inhibition—are circumstantial at best.

From Science Magazine

And indeed when Baby and his colleagues examined ants that had drowned in the pitcher fluid of N. khasiana, they found almost no acetylcholinesterase activity in their tissues.

From Science Magazine

These drugs, called acetylcholinesterase inhibitors, can help treat neurodegenerative conditions such as Alzheimer’s.

From Scientific American

Whenever you do anything muscle-related, your neurons use acetylcholinesterase as a signal to basically say “go move your muscles.”

From The Verge

So historically, experiments have been done with different types of molecules to see whether they inhibit acetylcholinesterase.

From The Verge