An
enzyme that hydrolyzes
acetylcholine (ACh) and resides on the
postsynaptic membrane surface. Important for maintaining the transient nature of acetylcholine signalling. Acetylcholinesterase (AChE) degrades ACh in the synapse and stops the signal transmission to the recieving neuron.
AChE has two distinct sites - an anionic site which binds the nitrogen of ACh and esteratic that donates electrons to the acetate portion of ACh, cleaving it from the choline.