Mutations affecting acetylcholine levels in the nematode Caenorhabditis elegans.
Gene cha-1.unc-17 of the nematode Caenorhabditis elegans is a complex gene, consisting of at least two complementation groups. One part (cha-1 region) of the gene encodes the enzyme choline acetyltransferase (ChAT), but the function of the other part (unc-17 region) is still unclear. We measured the ChAT activity and ACh levels of the cha-1 and unc-17 complex gene mutants. We show here that alterations in ACh levels, rather than the ChAT activity, reflect abnormal phenotypes accompanying cha-1.unc-17 mutations, that is, the decreased ACh levels in cha-1 mutations and abnormal accumulation in unc-17 mutations. Our results suggest that the unc-17 region may encode functions necessary for storage and/or release of ACh at the presynaptic level.
Hosono
R
R
Department of Biochemistry, School of Medicine, Kanazawa University, Ishikawa, Japan.
Sassa
T
T
Kuno
S
S
D000109:Acetylcholine / Q000378:metabolism*; D000483:Alleles; D000818:Animals; D002107:Caenorhabditis / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D002795:Choline O-Acetyltransferase / Q000235:genetics*; D007700:Kinetics; D009154:Mutation; D009411:Nerve Endings / Q000378:metabolism; D010641:Phenotype; D011950:Receptors, Cholinergic / Q000378:metabolism
D011950:Receptors, Cholinergic; D002795:Choline O-Acetyltransferase; D000109:Acetylcholine