Which statement best describes acetylcholine hydrolysis?

Which statement best describes acetylcholine hydrolysis?

• A. It can be acid or base catalyzed
• B. It occurs only enzymatically
• C. It occurs only in the brain
• D. It does not occur in the body

Answer: (A)

Hydrolysis of acetylcholine is an ester-breaking reaction where water attacks the ester linkage to give choline and acetate. This reaction can be accelerated by either acid or base catalysis. In acid catalysis, protonation of the carbonyl makes the carbon more electrophilic, inviting nucleophilic attack by water. In base catalysis, a base (like hydroxide) helps by activating the water or directly attacking the ester. In the body, acetylcholinesterase provides an extremely fast enzymatic route for this same hydrolysis, quickly terminating cholinergic signaling, but the underlying chemical possibility of acid- or base-catalyzed hydrolysis remains valid. The other statements are not correct because hydrolysis is not limited to enzymatic processes, it is not confined to the brain, and it does occur in the body.

Hydrolysis of acetylcholine is an ester-breaking reaction where water attacks the ester linkage to give choline and acetate. This reaction can be accelerated by either acid or base catalysis. In acid catalysis, protonation of the carbonyl makes the carbon more electrophilic, inviting nucleophilic attack by water. In base catalysis, a base (like hydroxide) helps by activating the water or directly attacking the ester. In the body, acetylcholinesterase provides an extremely fast enzymatic route for this same hydrolysis, quickly terminating cholinergic signaling, but the underlying chemical possibility of acid- or base-catalyzed hydrolysis remains valid. The other statements are not correct because hydrolysis is not limited to enzymatic processes, it is not confined to the brain, and it does occur in the body.