STRUCTURAL STUDIES ON ACETYLCHOLINESTERASE AND PARAOXONASE DIRECTED TOWARDS DEVELOPMENT OF THERAPEUTIC BIOMOLECULES FOR THE TREATMENT OF DEGENERATIVE DISEASES AND PROTECTION AGAINST CHEMICAL THREAT AGENTS

摘要

Acetylcholinesterase and paraoxonase are important targets for treatment of degenerative diseases, Alzheimer's disease and atherosclerosis, respectively, both of which impose major burdens on the health care systems in Western society. Acetylcholinesterase is the target of lethal nerve agents, and paraoxonase is under consideration as a bioscavenger for their detoxification. Both are thus the subject of research and development in the context of nerve agent toxicology. The crystal structures of the two enzymes are described, and structure/function relationships are discussed in the context of drug development and of development of means of protection against chemical threats.