cholinesterase

[ koh-luh-nes-tuh-reys, -reyz, kol-uh- ]

noun

, Biochemistry.

1. an enzyme, found especially in the heart, brain, and blood, that hydrolyzes acetylcholine to acetic acid and choline.

cholinesterase

/ ˌkɒl-; ˌkəʊlɪˈnɛstəˌreɪs /

noun

1. an enzyme that hydrolyses acetylcholine to choline and acetic acid

Word History and Origins

Origin of cholinesterase¹

First recorded in 1930–35; choline + esterase

Example Sentences

“Ascertaining the involvement of a novichok agent and its biotransformation products in this case was only achieved several days after establishing the diagnosis of cholinesterase inhibitor poisoning and did not affect therapeutic decision,” they write.

From The Guardian

Novichok belongs to a broad class of compounds called cholinesterase inhibitors, which are used in a wide range of medicines as well as poisons.

From New York Times

German doctors announced Aug. 24 that he showed symptoms of poisoning with a cholinesterase inhibitor, a class of chemical agents that includes Novichok and other nerve agents.

From Washington Post

Novichok is part of a class of cholinesterase inhibitors, which prevent nerves from giving “messages” to muscles, triggering a cascade of collapse of bodily functions.

From Los Angeles Times

It is a cholinesterase inhibitor, part of the class of substances that doctors at the Berlin hospital the Charité initially identified in Navalny.

From The Guardian