noun
- An enzyme that breaks down acetylcholine, a neurotransmitter, by hydrolyzing it into choline and acetic acid.
Usage: biochemistry; medical
Examples
- Cholinesterase is essential for regulating nerve impulses at the neuromuscular junction.
- The drug inhibits cholinesterase to increase acetylcholine levels in the brain.
- Pesticides can damage cholinesterase, leading to nerve damage in exposed workers.
- Doctors measure cholinesterase levels to diagnose certain poisonings.
- Cholinesterase deficiency can result in the accumulation of acetylcholine in the nervous system.