From protein to peptides: A spectrum of non-hydrolytic functions of acetylcholinesterase

Acetylcholinesterase (ache),a member of the α/β-hydrolase fold superfamily of proteins,is a serine hydrolase responsible for the hydrolysis of the well studied neurotransmitter acetylcholine (ach). however,it is becoming clear that ache has a range of actions other than this 'classical' role. non-classical ache functions have been identified in apoptosis,stress-responses,neuritogenesis,and neurodegeneration. furthermore,these non-classical roles are attributable not only to the native protein,which appears to act as a mediary binding protein under a number of circumstances,but also to peptides cleaved from the parent protein. peptides cleaved from ache can act as independent signalling molecules. here we discuss the implications of non-hydrolytic functions of this multi-tasking protein. © 2012 bentham science publishers.