Phosphatidylinositol is involved in the attachment of tailed asymmetric acetylcholinesterase to neuronal membranes.

1. We analyzed the mode of attachment of 16 S tailed acetylcholinesterase (AChE; EC 3.1.1.7) to rat superior cervical ganglion (SCG) neuronal membranes. Using extractions by high-salt (HS) and nonionic detergent (Triton X-100), we found two pools of 16 S AChE. 2. The detergent-extracted (DE) 16 S AChE was tightly bound to membranes through detergent-sensitive, high-salt insensitive interactions and was distinct from high-salt-soluble 16 S AChE. The detergent-extracted (DE) 16 S AChE constituted a significant proportion of about one-third of the total 16 S AChE. 3. Treatment of the neuronal membranes by a phosphatidylinositol-specific phospholipase C (PIPLC) resulted in the release of some, but not all DE 16 S AChE, indicating that a significant amount of the neuronal DE 16 S AChE, about one-third, is anchored to membranes through a phosphatidylinositol containing residue. Thus, a covalent association of a glycolipid and catalytic or structural AChE polypeptidic chains occurs not only for dimeric AChE but also for the asymmetric species of AChE. 4. The complex polymorphism of AChE is due not only to different globular or asymmetric associations of catalytic and structural subunits but also to the alternative existence of a transmembrane domain or a glycolipid membrane anchor.