Complete sequence of a cDNA encoding an active rat choline acetyltransferase: a tool to investigate the plasticity of cholinergic phenotype expression.
A cDNA clone encoding the complete sequence of an active rat choline acetyltransferase (ChoAcTase; acetyl-CoA:choline O-acetyltransferase, EC 2.3.1.6) has been isolated. Analysis of the deduced amino acid sequence reveals 85% and 31% identity with the porcine and Drosophila melanogaster enzymes, respectively. To further elucidate the molecular basis of neurotransmitter-related phenotypic plasticity, the expression of ChoAcTase mRNA was compared with that of tyrosine hydroxylase [TH; tyrosine 3-monooxygenase, L-tyrosine, tetrahydropteridine:oxygen oxidoreductase (3-hydroxylating), EC 1.14.16.2], in neurons from superior cervical ganglia grown in the following conditions: 1) normal medium, 2) high K+ medium, and 3) normal medium supplemented with 50% muscle-conditioned medium (CM). TH mRNA was expressed in all three media; its level rose in high K+ and decreased strikingly in the presence of CM. ChoAcTase mRNA could be visualized in CM, but fell to undetectable levels in normal and high K+ media. These results suggest that translational or post-translational mechanisms do not play a major role for the modulation of neurotransmitter-associated phenotype.
Brice
A
A
Laboratoire de Neurobiologie Cellulaire et Moléculaire, Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, Gif-sur-Yvette, France.
Berrard
S
S
Raynaud
B
B
Ansieau
S
S
Coppola
T
T
Weber
M J
MJ
Mallet
J
J
D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D000818:Animals; D001483:Base Sequence; D002795:Choline O-Acetyltransferase / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D002799:Cholinergic Fibers / Q000166:cytology / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000378:metabolism; D004247:DNA / Q000235:genetics*; D005728:Ganglia, Sympathetic / Q000166:cytology / Q000201:enzymology / Q000378:metabolism; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D051381:Rats; D012689:Sequence Homology, Nucleic Acid; D014446:Tyrosine 3-Monooxygenase / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism
D004247:DNA; D014446:Tyrosine 3-Monooxygenase; D002795:Choline O-Acetyltransferase