acetylcholinesterase
[ uh-seet-l-koh-luh-nes-tuh-reys, -reyz, uh-set-, as-i-tl- ]
/ əˌsit lˌkoʊ ləˈnɛs təˌreɪs, -ˌreɪz, əˌsɛt-, ˌæs ɪ tl- /
noun Biochemistry.
an enzyme that hydrolyzes the neurotransmitter acetylcholine: its action is blocked by nerve gases and certain drugs.
Origin of acetylcholinesterase
First recorded in 1945–50;
acetylcholine +
esterase
Words nearby acetylcholinesterase
acetylaniline,
acetylate,
acetylation,
acetylbenzene,
acetylcholine,
acetylcholinesterase,
acetylcysteine,
acetylene,
acetylene series,
acetylformic acid,
acetylic
British Dictionary definitions for acetylcholinesterase
acetylcholinesterase
/ (əˈsiːtaɪlˌkəʊliːnˈɛstərˌeɪz, ˈæsɪtaɪl-) /
noun
an enzyme in nerve cells that is responsible for the destruction of acetylcholine and thus for switching off excitation of the nerve
Medical definitions for acetylcholinesterase
acetylcholinesterase
[ ə-sēt′l-kō′lə-nĕs′tə-rās′, -rāz′ ]
n.
cholinesterase