Molecular biology of the vesicular ACh transporter.
The cholinergic synapse has long been a model for biochemical studies of neurotransmission. The molecules that are responsible for synaptic transmission are being identified rapidly. The vesicular transporter for ACh, which is responsible for the concentration of ACh within synaptic vesicles, has been characterized recently, both at the molecular and functional level. Definitive identification of the cloned gene involved genetics of Caenorhabditis elegans, the specialized Torpedo electromotor system, and expression in mammalian tissue culture. Comparison of the vesicular transporter for ACh with the vesicular transporters for monoamines demonstrates a new gene family. Gene mapping has demonstrated a unique relationship between the genes for the vesicular ACh transporter and for choline acetyltransferase.
Usdin
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Laboratory of Cell Biology, National Institute of Mental Health, Bethesda, MD 208920-4092, USA.
Eiden
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Bonner
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Erickson
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D000109:Acetylcholine / Q000378:metabolism; D000818:Animals; D002352:Carrier Proteins / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism*; D002795:Choline O-Acetyltransferase / Q000235:genetics; D002874:Chromosome Mapping; D003593:Cytoplasm / Q000235:genetics; D005796:Genes; D026901:Membrane Transport Proteins; D008954:Models, Biological; D018377:Neurotransmitter Agents / Q000378:metabolism; D013569:Synapses / Q000378:metabolism*; D013572:Synaptic Vesicles / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000502:physiology*; D014157:Transcription Factors; D050494:Vesicular Acetylcholine Transport Proteins; D033921:Vesicular Transport Proteins
D002352:Carrier Proteins; D026901:Membrane Transport Proteins; D018377:Neurotransmitter Agents; D014157:Transcription Factors; D050494:Vesicular Acetylcholine Transport Proteins; D033921:Vesicular Transport Proteins; D002795:Choline O-Acetyltransferase; D000109:Acetylcholine