ISSN:
1471-4159
Quelle:
Blackwell Publishing Journal Backfiles 1879-2005
Thema:
Medizin
Notizen:
Abstract: A fusion protein containing a Drosophila choline acetyltransferase (ChAT) cDNA insert was purified from a λ gtll lysate of Escherichia coli. The cDNA insert, which contained a 728-amino acid coding region for ChAT, was used for immunizing rabbits. Three different antisera were produced that could recognize native Drosophila ChAT with low titer. In addition, all three antisera stained enzyme polypeptides using the Western blot technique at high titers. The antisera recognized ChAT polypeptides with molecular masses of 67 and 54 kilodaltons in Western blots of partially purified enzyme; these polypeptides had previously been identified using monoclonal anti-ChAT antibodies and are the major components of completely purified enzyme. It was surprising that when these antisera were used to stain Western blots of Drosophila head homogenates, the major immunoreactive band had a molecular mass of 75 kilodaltons. The relationship of this 75-kilodal-ton polypeptide to ChAT activity was investigated by fractionating fresh fly head homogenates using rapid HPLC gel filtration chromatography. Analysis of column fractions for enzyme activity and immunoreactive polypeptides indicated that the 75- and 67-kilodalton polypeptides can be resolved and are both enzymatically active. In addition, a correlation was observed between the relative immunostaining intensities of both the 75- and 67-kilodalton bands and ChAT activity when supernatants from fresh fly head homogenates were autolyzed at 37°C. Our results indicate that ChAT is present in fresh Drosophila heads primarily as an active enzyme with a molecular mass of 75 kilodaltons. The previously reported molecular mass of 67 kilodaltons for native Drosophila ChAT as well as ChAT polypeptides in partially purified enzyme preparations may have resulted from proteolysis of the 75-kilodalton form of the enzyme. Recombinant DNA technology provides a good approach to raise high-titered, sequence-directed polyclonal antibodies to ChAT without the difficulties encountered in purifying the enzyme directly from Drosophila.
Materialart:
Digitale Medien
URL:
http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1471-4159.1988.tb13245.x
