THE EFFECT OF NITROGEN MUSTARDS ON ENZYMES AND TISSUE METABOLISM : I. THE EFFECT ON ENZYMES

Nitrogen mustards are powerful inhibitors for choline oxidase, acetylcholine esterase, and choline acetylase, half-inhibition of the first enzyme being produced with concentrations around 1 x 10^–6 M; i.e., ten times less than the LD⁵⁰ values. Acetylcholine esterase and choline acetylase required higher concentrations. This inhibition seems to be due to the structural similarity of the ethylenimonium derivatives with choline and acetylcholine. A list of enzyme systems inhibited by nitrogen mustards is given.