| Abstract
| - Acetylcholinesterase is one of the most widely used and studied enzymes. Not only does thisenzyme regulate neurotransmission (and thus play a key role in neurodegenerative processes) but it isalso a prime target for pest control agents and warfare agents. Above all, due to its particularly high turnoverrate, acetylcholinesterase is among the most efficient reporter enzymes yet described (for use as enzymatictracer in immunoassays, for instance). However, its activity is detected through a colorimetric reagent, theEllman reagent, which displays low detection limits and is often subject to background perturbations. Inthe course of our search for a more sensitive detection assay, we describe here a first-generation 1,2-dioxetane chemiluminescent probe, based on chemically induced electron exchange luminescence, whichhas an approximately 10 times lower detection limit than the Ellman colorimetric assay (2.5 × 10-19 molfor Electrophorus electricus AChE in its tetrameric form).
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