Butyrylcholinesterase
mammalian protein found in Homo sapiens
Butyrylcholinesterase (HGNC symbol BCHE; EC 3.1.1.8), also known as BChE, BuChE, BuChase, pseudocholinesterase, or plasma (cholin)esterase, is a nonspecific cholinesterase, an enzyme that hydrolyses many different choline-based esters. In humans, it is made in the liver and found mainly in blood plasma. It is encoded by the BCHE gene.
It is very similar to the neuronal acetylcholinesterase, which is also known as RBC or "erythrocyte cholinesterase". The term "serum cholinesterase" is generally used in reference to a clinical test that reflects levels of both of these enzymes in the blood. Assay of butyrylcholinesterase activity in plasma can be used as a liver function test, due to the fact that both hypercholinesterasemia and hypocholinesterasemia indicate pathological processes. The half-life of BCHE is approximately 10 to 14 days.
Butyrylcholine is a synthetic compound that does not occur in the body naturally. It is used to distinguish between acetylcholinesterase and butyrylcholinesterase.
Potential physiological role
Butyrylcholinesterase may be a physiological ghrelin regulator.
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