Boundaries of the butyrylcholinesterase anion site from data of a conformational analysis of substrates.

By means of molecular mechanics, theoretical conformational analysis has been made of 19 substrates of butyrylcholinesterase - acetylcholine derivatives with different structure of the ammonium group. It was concluded that the anionic point is located in the cavity of the enzymic molecule. Dimensions and shape of this cavity were established which provide satisfactory correlation between its filling by substrate conformers and the rate of their enzymic hydrolysis. Some suggestions were made with respect to the mechanism of the effect of non-productive sorbtion of the substrates on the rate of their enzymic hydrolysis.