Peripheral binding site is involved in the neurotrophic activity of acetylcholinesterase

Acetylcholinesterase (AChE) catalyses the hydrolysis of the neurotransmitter acetylcholine and it has been implicated in several non-cholinergic actions, including neurite outgrowth and amyloid formation. We have studied the trophic function of brain AChE on neuronal cell metabolism and proliferation as well as the enzyme domain involved in such effects. Low AChE concentrations (0.1-2.5 nM) stimulated neurite outgrowth and induced cell proliferation as measured by MTT reduction and [3H]thymidine incorporation. The action of AChE was not affected by edrophonium and tacrine both active site inhibitors, but it was abolished by propidium and gallamine, two peripheral anionic binding site (PAS) ligands. We conclude that the PAS domain of AChE is involved in the neurotrophic activity of the enzyme.