Acetylcholinesterase (EC 3.1.1.7; AChE), also known as RBC cholinesterase, is found primarily in the blood and neural synapses. Low serum cholinesterase activity may relate to exposure to insecticides or to one of a number of variant genotypes. AChE catalyzes the hydrolysis of the neurotransmitter acetylcholine into choline and acetic acid, a reaction necessary to allow a cholinergic neuron to return to its resting state after activation. Cholinesterase levels of cells and plasma are used as a guide in establishing safety precautions relative to exposure and contact, as well as a guide in determining the need for workers to be removed from areas of contact with the organic phosphate insecticides.

Simple, direct and automation-ready procedures for measuring AChE activity are very desirable. This Acetylcholinesterase Assay is based on an improved Ellman method, in which thiocholine produced by the action of acetylcholinesterase forms a yellow color with 5,5’-dithiobis(2-nitrobenzoic acid). The intensity of the product color, measured at 412nm, is proportional to the enzyme activity in the sample.

Direct assays of acetylcholinesterase activity in blood, serum, plasma, and other biological samples. Evaluation of acetylcholinesterase inhibitors.

Sensitive and accurate. Detection range 10 to 600U/L AChE activity in 96-well plate assay. Convenient. The procedure involves adding a single working reagent, and reading the optical density at 2 min and 10 min at room temperature. High-throughput. Can be readily automated as a high-throughput 96- well plate assay for thousands of samples per day.

Kit Components: (100 tests in 96-well plates) A0526-44A1: Assay Buffer (pH 7.5), 30ml A0526-44A2: Reagent, 240mg A0526-44A3: Calibrator, 4ml (equivalent to 200U/L)

Pipeting (multi-channel) devices Clear-bottom 96-well plates (e.g. Corning Costar) Plate reader

Store all components at room temperature (25°C). Stable for 6 months after receipt. For maximum recovery of product, centrifuge the original vials prior to removing the cap. 

Reagents are for research use only. Normal precautions for laboratory reagents should be exercised while using the reagents. Please refer to Material Safety Data Sheet for detailed information.

1. Blood samples should be diluted 40-fold in the Assay Buffer, e.g. accurately pipet 5ul blood and mix thoroughly with 195ul Assay Buffer. 2. Tissue or cell lysates are prepared by brief sonication or homogenization in 0.1M phosphate buffer (pH 7.5), followed by centrifugation at 14,000 rpm for 5 min. Use supernatant for assay. Ideally samples should be assayed fresh. If this is not possible, refrigerate samples and assay them within 24 hours.

The Working Reagent should be prepared fresh and used within 30 min. Each reaction well requires 2mg reagent. Calculate the amount of reagent needed and weigh this amount (mg) in a centrifuge tube. Add 200ul Assay Buffer per 2 mg reagent. Vortex to dissolve.

1. Calibrator: Transfer 200ul water and 200ul calibrator separately into wells of a clear bottom 96-well plate. Samples: Add 10ul sample per well in separate wells.

2. Reaction: Transfer 190ul freshly prepared Working Reagent to all sample wells and tap plate briefly to mix. Read OD412nm at 2min. and at 10min. in a plate reader.

AChE Activity = [(OD10 - OD2)/(ODCAL – ODH2O)] x n x 200 (U/L)

OD10 and OD2 are the OD412nm values of the sample at 10min. and 2 min., respectively. ODCAL and ODH2O are the OD412nm values of the Calibrator and water at 10min. n is the dilution factor (n = 40 for whole blood). The number “200” is the equivalent activity of the calibrator under the assay conditions.

Note: If the AChE activity without consideration of the dilution factor is higher than 600U/L, dilute sample further in Assay Buffer and repeat the assay. Multiply the results by the dilution factor.

One unit of enzyme catalyzes the production of 1micromole of thiocholine per minute under the assay conditions (pH 7.5 and room temperature).

1. This assay is based on an enzyme-catalyzed kinetic reaction. Addition of Working Reagent should be quick and mixing should be brief but thorough. Use of a multi-channel pipettor is recommended. 2. For assays in standard 1ml cuvet, use 1ml water and 1ml Calibrator, 50ul sample + 950ul Working Reagent.

Two human blood samples were assayed in duplicate using the 96- well plate protocol. The AChE activities were 3,402 ± 163 and 3,660 ±151 U/L.