Cholinesterase Newfoundland: a new succinylcholine-sensitive variant of cholinesterase at locus 1.

A family from Newfoundland was found to have a new rare variant for plasma cholinesterase (E.C.3.1.1.8) recognized by a high-percentage inhibition by dibucaine (DN), particularly when succinyldithiocholine was used as substrate (DNSDTC) but also somewhat high when benzoylcholine was substrate (DNBZCH). The family data demonstrated that the variant is determined by an allele of the usual and atypical alleles at locus 1, and the new allele is designated CHE1*NFLD. The proband who was heterozygous for the Newfoundland and atypical alleles had shown sensitivity to succinylcholine. It is postulated that cholinesterase Newfoundland (NFLD) has a reduced affinity for succinylcholine. Samples selected for high DNs with a benzoylcholine from 200 Canadian Caucasians and 70 Newfoundlanders did not have the variant, and, therefore, it is assumed that the remainder of the samples did not have the variant.