Kinetic parameters of cholinesterase interactions with organophosphates: retrieval and comparison tools available through ESTHER database

Cholinesterases are targets for organophosphorus compounds which are used a s insecticides, chemical warfare agents and drugs for the treatment of dise ase such as glaucoma, or parasitic infections. The widespread use of these chemicals explains the growing of this area of research and the ever increa sing number of sequences, structures, or biochemical data available. Future advances will depend upon effective management of existing information as well as upon creation of new knowledge. The ESTHER database goal is to faci litate retrieval and comparison of data about structure and function of pro teins presenting the alpha/beta hydrolase fold. Protein engineering and in vitro production of enzymes allow direct comparison of biochemical paramete rs. Kinetic parameters of enzymatic reactions are now included in the datab ase. These parameters can be searched and compared with a table constructio n tool. ESTHER can be reached through internet (http://www.ensam.inra.fr/ch olinesterase). The full database or the specialised X-window Client-server system can be downloaded from our ftp server (ftp://ftp.toulouse.inra.fr./p ub/esther). Forms can be used to send updates or corrections directly from the web. (C) 1999 Elsevier Science Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.