Effects of amphiphiles on structure and activity of human erythrocyte membrane acetylcholinesterase.

Detergents above their critical micellar concentration dissociate the aggregated forms of pure acetylcholinesterase from human erythrocyte membranes to a 6.5-S form, the protomer. This form is active only in presence of amphiphiles. 1. Uncharged (Triton X-100, Tweens, beta-D-octylglycoside), anionic (sodium dodecyl sulfate) and zwitterionic (lysophosphatidylcholine) detergents or bile salts (sodium cholate, deoxycholate) stabilize the 6.5-S enzyme at concentrations well below their critical micellar concentration. 2. Total erythrocyte lipids fully sustain catalytic activity of the 6.5-S form. 3. Protein-protein interactions stabilize the activity of the 6.5-S form of acetylcholinesterase. Above a critical acetylcholinesterase concentration (2.5 microgram/ml) enzyme activity no longer depends on the presence of an amphiphile as reaggregation to multiple molecular forms occurs. It is concluded that human erythrocyte membrane acetylcholinesterase is fully active only if the enzyme can undergo hydrophobic interactions with amphiphiles such as detergents, lipids or proteins.