Butyrylcholinesterase is a serine hydrolase that catalyzes the hydrolysis of esters in the body. Unlike its sister enzyme acetylcholinesterase, butyrylcholinesterase has a broad substrate scope and lower acetylcholine catalytic efficiency. The difference in tissue distribution and inhibitor sensitivity also points to its involvement external to cholinergic neurotransmission. Initial studies on butyrylcholinesterase showed that the inhibition of the enzyme led to the increment of brain acetylcholine levels. Further gene knockout studies suggested its involvement in the regulation of amyloid-beta, a brain pathogenic protein. Thus, it is an interesting target for neurological disorders such as Alzheimer's disease. The substrate scope of butyrylcholinesterase was recently found to include cocaine, as well as ghrelin, the "hunger hormone". These findings led to the development of recombinant butyrylcholinesterase mutants and viral gene therapy to combat cocaine addiction, along with in-depth studies on the significance of butyrylcholinesterase in obesity. It is observed that the pharmacological impact of butyrylcholinesterase increased in tandem with each reported finding. Not only is the enzyme now considered an important pharmacological target, it is also becoming an important tool to study the biological pathways in various diseases. Here, we review and summarize the biochemical properties of butyrylcholinesterase and its roles, as a cholinergic neurotransmitter, in various diseases, particularly neurodegenerative disorders.

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丁酰胆碱酯酶：多方面的药理目标和工具。

丁酰胆碱酯酶是一种丝氨酸水解酶，可催化体内酯的水解。不同于其姊妹酶乙酰胆碱酯酶，丁酰胆碱酯酶具有广泛的底物范围和较低的乙酰胆碱催化效率。组织分布和抑制剂敏感性的差异还表明其参与胆碱能神经传递之外。对丁酰胆碱酯酶的初步研究表明，对该酶的抑制导致脑中乙酰胆碱水平的升高。进一步的基因敲除研究表明，它参与了脑致病蛋白淀粉样β的调控。因此，它是阿尔茨海默氏病等神经系统疾病的有趣靶标。最近发现丁酰胆碱酯酶的底物范围包括可卡因，以及“饥饿激素” ghrelin。这些发现导致开发了可逆可卡因成瘾的重组丁酰胆碱酯酶突变体和病毒基因疗法，并深入研究了丁酰胆碱酯酶在肥胖症中的重要性。观察到丁酰胆碱酯酶的药理作用与每个报道的发现一起增加。这种酶不仅现在被认为是重要的药理学靶标，而且也正在成为研究各种疾病中生物学途径的重要工具。在这里，我们回顾和总结丁酰胆碱酯酶的生化特性及其作为胆碱能神经递质在各种疾病（尤其是神经退行性疾病）中的作用。以及对丁酰胆碱酯酶在肥胖症中的意义的深入研究。观察到丁酰胆碱酯酶的药理作用与每个报道的发现一起增加。现在，不仅该酶被认为是重要的药理学靶标，而且它也正在成为研究各种疾病中生物途径的重要工具。在这里，我们回顾和总结丁酰胆碱酯酶的生化特性及其作为胆碱能神经递质在各种疾病（尤其是神经退行性疾病）中的作用。以及对丁酰胆碱酯酶在肥胖症中的意义的深入研究。观察到丁酰胆碱酯酶的药理作用与每个报道的发现一起增加。这种酶不仅现在被认为是重要的药理学靶标，而且也正在成为研究各种疾病中生物学途径的重要工具。在这里，我们回顾和总结丁酰胆碱酯酶的生化特性及其作为胆碱能神经递质在各种疾病（尤其是神经退行性疾病）中的作用。它也正在成为研究各种疾病的生物学途径的重要工具。在这里，我们回顾和总结丁酰胆碱酯酶的生化特性及其作为胆碱能神经递质在各种疾病（尤其是神经退行性疾病）中的作用。它也正在成为研究各种疾病的生物学途径的重要工具。在这里，我们回顾和总结丁酰胆碱酯酶的生化特性及其作为胆碱能神经递质在各种疾病（尤其是神经退行性疾病）中的作用。