Specifications

  • Assay Type Activity Assay
  • Sample Types Serum, Plasma (EDTA and Heparin)
  • Sensitivity 0.018 mU/mL
  • Species Species Independent
  • Assay Duration 20 Minutes
  • Samples/Plate 40 in Duplicate
  • Readout Fluorescent, 510 nm Emission / 390 nm Excitation
  • Standard Curve Butyrylcholinesterase (BChE) Fluorescent Activity Kit
  • Description

    Assay Principle: 

    The Butyrylcholinesterase (BChE) Fluorescent Activity Kit quantitatively measures BChE activity in serum, plasma (EDTA and Heparin), RBC ghosts, and extracted tissue samples. The Butyrylcholinesterase (BChE) Fluorescent Activity Kit is an Activity Assay with a run time of 20 minutes. Please read the complete kit insert for more information before performing this assay.

    Use our provided Butyrylcholinesterase Standard to generate a standard curve for the assay. Pipette the standards and samples into a black microtiter plate. Add the Assay Buffer and Reaction Mix to each well, tapping the plate to ensure sufficient mixing of reagents. Then incubate the plate at room temperature for 20 minutes. The fluorescent-generating reaction occurs when the ThioStar® reagent binds to the thiol generated between the BChE substrate and the BChE present in the samples.

    After the 20-minute incubation, use a plate reader to detect and record the generated fluorescent signal at 510nm. Use the intensity and the standard curve to calculate the BChE activity in the samples.

    Background:

    Butyrylcholinesterase (BChE), found in the same structural class of proteins as acetylcholinesterase (AChE), is predominantly found in blood, kidneys, intestine, liver, lung, heart, and the central nervous system. Species, such as humans, horses, and mice, exhibit high BChE plasma activity, whereas rats have higher acetylcholinesterase activity in plasma. In Alzheimer’s disease therapeutics, potent cholinesterase inhibitors, acting on both AChE and BChE, protects limited endogenous acetylcholine levels found. As dementia advances, BChE activity has been shown to increase while AChE activity decreases, leaving the potential for BChE activity to be used as a biomarker. BChE may also have roles in attention, executive function, emotional memory, and behavior.