ABSTRACT
Acetylcholine is a biologically active substance in all living systems—from microorganisms to plants and animals. Animal organisms produce acetylcholine—the main neurotransmitter in the parasympathetic nervous system—which performs neuromuscular transmission. Plants also produce acetylcholine, which participates in the signaling and regulatory processes, but its mechanism of interactions with redox compounds in a cell is unknown. Herein, a possible free radical mechanism for acetylcholine action is considered. A general background of this chapter: may acetylcholine act through membrane receptors by this mechanism like other quaternary ammonium compounds or not? The theoretical analysis of the mechanisms for acetylcholine action being based on the chemical properties of the molecule due to elementary reactions that also take place in the living systems in accordance with chemical laws is considered. By knowing the chemical properties of a substance, it’s possible to predict its behavior in biological systems.
