Multidisciplinary Approaches to Cholinesterase Functions

Acetylcholinesterase plays a key role in cholinergic transnnSSlOn. By rapid hydrolysis of the neurotransmitter acetylcholine the enzyme terminates the chemical impluse, thereby allowing rapid repetitive responses. Inhibitors of cholinesterases have important applications in agriculture - pest control, and in medicine - treatment of various disorders such as myasthenia gravis, glaucoma and management of Alzheimer's disease. These are some of the reasons for the special attraction of scientists from multiple disciplines such as neurobiology, pharmacology, chemistry, biochemistry, molecular biology and biotechnology to cholinesterase research. We have been fortunate to organize the 36th OHOLO conference on Multidisciplinary Approaches to Cholinesterase Functions at a time when this field of research is bursting with new concepts and ideas, brought about by the recent structural resolution of the catalytic subunit of acetylcholinesterase and by application of methodologies related to molecular genetics and protein engineering. This volume summarizes most of the important advances resulting from these developments as reflected in the OHOLO meeting.