Alloxan-diabetes alters kinetic properties of the membrane-bound form, but not of the soluble form, of acetylcholinesterase in rat brain.

We examined the effects of alloxan-diabetes on the kinetic properties of the soluble and the membrane-bound forms of acetylcholinesterase (AChE) in rat brain. The Km (0.15 mM) and Vmax. (1.5 mmol/min per mg of protein) of the soluble form of the enzyme were unchanged in the diabetic animals. The membrane-bound enzyme in the control group displayed a lower Km (0.09 mM) and a higher Vmax. (7.2 mmol/min per mg of protein) compared with the soluble form of the enzyme; the diabetic state caused a significant increase (40%) in both Km and Vmax. Kis values were about 3-4 times higher for the membrane-bound enzyme in both control and diabetic animals. The results suggest that membrane binding and membrane alterations in diabetes can significantly influence the kinetic properties of AChE.