Assay Principle:

The DetectX® Butyrylcholinesterase (BChE) Fluorescent Activity Kit quantitatively measures BChE activity several sample types. These include serum, plasma (EDTA and Heparin), RBC ghosts, and extracted tissue samples. This activity assay features a run time of 20 minutes and is designed for efficiency and accuracy. Read the kit insert for complete instructions before starting the assay. The kit includes a Butyrylcholinesterase Standard to establish an accurate standard curve.

Protocol Summary:

• Transfer standards and samples into the black microtiter plate.
• Add Assay Buffer and Reaction Mix to each well, ensuring thorough mixing.
• Incubate the plate at room temperature for 20 minutes, allowing the ThioStar® reagent to bind to the thiol generated by the interaction between the BChE substrate and the BChE in the samples.
• Use a plate reader to detect the fluorescent signal at 510nm and calculate BChE activity using the standard curve.

Background:

Butyrylcholinesterase (BChE) is structurally similar to acetylcholinesterase (AChE). BChE aggregates predominantly in blood, kidneys, intestines, liver, lungs, heart, and the central nervous system. Species differences in BChE activity are notable, with humans, horses, and mice exhibiting high plasma BChE activity, in contrast to rats, which have higher acetylcholinesterase activity in plasma.

Cholinesterase inhibitors, which act on both AChE and BChE, play an important role in preserving limited endogenous acetylcholine levels. This is particularly notable in the context of Alzheimer’s disease therapeutics.

Similarly, as dementia progresses, BChE activity tends to increase while AChE activity decreases, suggesting the potential for BChE activity as a biomarker in dementia. In this way, BChE impacts various cognitive and behavioral functions, including attention, executive function, emotional memory, and behavior.

The DetectX® Butyrylcholinesterase (BChE) Fluorescent Activity Kit, with its high sensitivity and specificity, is a valuable tool for research in neurobiology, pharmacology, and toxicology. It enables precise quantification of BChE activity, providing insights into cholinergic function and the mechanisms of diseases and treatments involving BChE.