The number of catalytic sites in acetylcholinesterase.

By using two methods of titration, the number of active sites in acetylcholinesterase was determined. Either stepwise inhibition of the enzyme by an irreversible inhibitor, namely di-isopropyl phosphorofluoridate, or direct measurement of the concentration of active sites by titration with o-nitrophenyl dimethylcarbamate yielded an equivalent weight of approx. 130000 for an active site in acetylcholinesterase.

On the association of tyrocidine with acetylcholinesterase.

In studies of several polypeptide antibiotics with a high affinity for a variety of biological membranes, tyrocidine was found to bind specifically to acetylcholinesterase, an enzyme localized in excitable membranes. Several other polypeptides tested were not bound. Tyrocidine reversibly inhibits acetylcholinesterase formed by homogeneous protein, but seems to have no effect on the activity of the enzyme bound to the eel electroplax membrane.