INHIBITION OF BOVINE BRAIN ACETYLCHOLINESTERASE BY ALUMINUM

We report the in vitro inhibitory effect of very low concentrations of aluminum salts (IC50 = 4.1 X 10(-12)M) on bovine brain acetylcholines terase (AChE). The enzymatic assays were performed using acetylcholine bromide in a buffered pH 7.4 solution at 37 degrees C. The relevant e nzyme interacting species is the Al3+ ion, whose concentrations were f ixed at pM levels by a citrate metal ion buffer system. The IC50 demon strates that Al3+ is a potent inhibitor of AChE.