AChE

Acetylcholinesterase (AChE) is the principal cholinergic enzyme that rapidly hydrolyzes acetylcholine at cholinergic synapses and neuromuscular junctions, thereby terminating neurotransmission and maintaining synaptic signaling fidelity^[1]. Mechanistically, AChE regulates cholinergic pathway activity through efficient acetylcholine clearance, a process that is essential for normal neuronal communication and neuromuscular function^[1]. Beyond its catalytic role, AChE displays multiple molecular forms and has been implicated in cellular interactions, neuronal activity modulation, and pathological states, supporting broader biological functions outside classical neurotransmission^[1]. In neurodegenerative disease models, particularly Alzheimer’s disease (AD), altered cholinergic signaling is closely associated with cognitive impairment, and cholinesterase inhibition remains a major symptomatic therapeutic strategy^[2][3]. Compared with the related isoform butyrylcholinesterase (BChE), AChE is the predominant cholinesterase in the brain and plays a primary role in synaptic acetylcholine hydrolysis, whereas BChE may compensate when AChE activity is reduced and exhibits distinct pathological changes during AD progression^[3][4]. For experimental and translational applications, reversible and dual AChE/BChE inhibitors, including rivastigmine, are widely used to enhance cholinergic neurotransmission and investigate mechanisms underlying neurodegeneration and cognitive dysfunction^[2][3].