Drugs acting on Ach release and breakdown

Question 1

2 regions of acetylcholinesterase

Answer 1

anionic site -> binds to choline of ACh

catalytic site -> breaks down Ach to acetate and choline

Question 2

irreversible AChE inhibitors - MoA

Answer 2

covalently bind to serine-OH at catalytic site

no spontaneous hydrolysis of bound complex

Question 3

myasthenia gravis

Answer 3

autoimmune disease affecting NMJ

drooping eyelids, weakness in skeletal muscles

NMJ autoantibodies - block nicotinic receptors (prevent interaction between ACh and nAChR)

Question 4

Ach synthesis

Answer 4

acetate + CoA -> acetyl-CoA [AcCoA synthetase]

acetyl-CoA + choline -> Ach
[choline acetyltransferase]

Question 5

Ach breakdown

Answer 5

Ach -> choline + acetate [acetylcholinesterase]