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Non-enzymatic Imidazole-catalysed Acyl Transfer Reaction and Acetylcholine Synthesis

Abstract

On the basis of detailed kinetic and inhibitory studies of the enzyme choline acetyltransferase, White and Cavallito have proposed that a catalytic imidazole group is involved in the acyl transfer reaction1. Their studies and those of others2 have also shown that imidazole seems to stimulate the enzymatic synthesis of acetylcholine (ACh) from acetyl-CoA and choline. This stimulation was dependent on the presence of the enzyme preparation and non-enzymatic formation of ACh was not observed1, 2.

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References

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BURT, A., SILVER, A. Non-enzymatic Imidazole-catalysed Acyl Transfer Reaction and Acetylcholine Synthesis. Nature New Biology 243, 157–159 (1973). https://doi.org/10.1038/newbio243157a0

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