title: Identification and analysis of the human choline acetyltransferase gene promoter.
abstract: Choline acetyltransferase (ChAT) is the key enzyme responsible for the synthesis of the neurotransmitter acetylcholine and is reduced in various central neurodegenerative diseases. From a previously selected 12.6 kb human choline acetyltransferase (hChAT) genomic clone, we have identified and characterized a promoter region of 895 bp. Sequence analysis revealed the presence of a TATA-like box, a CAAT box and several putative regulatory responsive elements. Three transcription initiation sites were determined by primer extension analysis. The Northern blot of poly(A)+ RNA, showed a single band of 2300 Nt in the human nucleus accumbens and facial nucleus. By using transient transfections into NE-1-115 and COS-1 cells of the 5' flanking region of the hChAT gene we identified a sequence of 66 bp upstream of the transcription start site which confers responsiveness to proto-oncogenes c-Fos/c-Jun. These data suggest that the hChAT gene may be a physiological target of c-Fos/c-Jun and therefore may play a role in neuronal responses to various stimuli.
authors.affiliation: Institut de Chimie Biologique de la Faculté de Médecine, Strasbourg, France.
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Bausero
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Schmitt
authors.forename: J L
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Toussaint
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Simoni
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Geoffroy
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Queuche
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Duclaud
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Kempf
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Quirin-Stricker
mesh_terms: D001483:Base Sequence; D015152:Blotting, Northern; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D002795:Choline O-Acetyltransferase / Q000235:genetics*; D006801:Humans; D007438:Introns; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D009447:Neuroblastoma / Q000201:enzymology; D010275:Parasympathetic Nervous System / Q000201:enzymology; D010957:Plasmids; D011401:Promoter Regions, Genetic; D016548:Prosencephalon / Q000378:metabolism; D012313:RNA / Q000032:analysis; D016385:TATA Box; D014158:Transcription, Genetic; D014162:Transfection; D014407:Tumor Cells, Cultured
chemical_list: D012313:RNA; D002795:Choline O-Acetyltransferase