Ellman's method is a standard protocol for the determination of cholinesterases activity. Though the method is ready for laboratory purposes, it has some drawbacks as well.
In the current article, 2,6-dichloroindophenol acetate is performed as a chromogenic substrate suitable for acetylcholinesterase (AChE) activity examination. Michaelis constant and maximal velocity for 2,6-dichloroindophenol acetate were determined (38.0 mu M and 244 pkat) and compared to the values for acetythiocholine (Km 0.18 mM; Vmax 5.1 nkat).
Docking for 2,6-dichloroindophenol acetate and human AChE was done as well. In conclusion, 2,6-dichloroindophenol acetate seems to be suitable chromogenic substrate for AChE and spectrophotometry and based on this it can be easily performed whenever AChE activity should be tested.