Synthesis of catalytically active choline acetyltransferase in Xenopus oocytes injected with messenger RNA from rat central nervous system.
Choline acetyltransferase (ChAT) mRNA and ChAT enzymatic activity have been compared in different regions of the rat central nervous system. mRNA was assayed by exploiting the Xenopus oocyte system which was first tested by measuring the electrophysiological response to glycine after injection of mRNA derived from the ventral part of the spinal cord (VSC). This tissue was found to contain the highest ChAT mRNA level. The striatum, which yielded the maximal enzymatic activity, contained 10 times less ChAT mRNA than the VSC. These results are discussed in terms of the neuroanatomical differences between the two structures.
D000818:Animals; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D002490:Central Nervous System / Q000032:analysis / Q000201:enzymology*; D002795:Choline O-Acetyltransferase / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D009865:Oocytes / Q000378:metabolism; D014176:Protein Biosynthesis; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000378:metabolism*; D051381:Rats; D014982:Xenopus laevis
D012333:RNA, Messenger; D002795:Choline O-Acetyltransferase