Choline acetyltransferase (EC 2.3.1.6) is the biosynthetic enzyme for the neurotransmitter acetylcholine. To isolate choline acetyltransferase cDNA clones, a cDNA library was constructed from poly(A)+ RNA of Drosophila melanogaster heads, these being one of the richest known sources of the enzyme. By screening the cDNA library with a mixture of three different monoclonal antibodies to Drosophil...

Constructions starting at each of the three in-frame ATG codons of the Acremonium chrysogenum cefG gene (Met1, Met46 and Met60) were expressed in Escherichia coli, obtaining proteins of 49, 44 and 43 kDa, respectively. All three proteins showed deacetylcephalosporin C (DAC) acetyltransferase activity. The native A. chrysogenum DAC acetyltransferase was purified to electrophoretic homogeneity by...

An enzyme which N-acetylates beta-endorphin has been identified and characterized in the rat brain and pituitary gland. The beta-endorphin acetyltransferase activity was localized almost exclusively in the intermediate lobe of the pituitary gland. beta-endorphin acetyltransferase activity was also present in the hypothalamus, a brain region which synthesizes beta-endorphin, but not the cerebell...

Fifty human livers obtained at autopsy were analyzed for N-acetyltransferase and classified into six genotypes. Determination of N-acetyltransferase activity and proteins from supernatants of liver homogenates indicate that genotype I corresponds to rapid acetylator, genotypes II and III to intermediate acetylator, and genotypes IV, V, and VI to slow acetylator phenotypes. Northern blot analysi...

We have developed a simplified assay for the enzyme N-acetyltransferase, based upon the loss of fluorescence after acetylation of the substrate p-aminobenzoic acid. This method is sufficiently sensitive to permit the quantitation of N-acetyltransferase activity in 10(5) human lymphocytes. Using this method, we have compared the level of N-acetyltransferase activity in lymphocytes from adult per...

A cDNA clone encoding the full coding region of polymorphic arylamine N-acetyltransferase was isolated from rabbit liver and expressed in Chinese hamster ovary cells. The expressed enzyme acetylated 2-aminofluorene, procainamide, sulfamethazine, and p-aminobenzoic acid at equivalent rates. N-Acetyltransferase activity was measured in 17 rabbits from an inbred colony which were classified into r...

The histone acetyltransferase Gcn5 is conserved throughout eukaryotes where it functions as part of large multi-subunit transcriptional coactivator complexes that stimulate gene expression. Here, we describe how studies in the model insect Drosophila melanogaster have provided insight into essential roles played by development multicellular organisms. We outline composition and activity four di...

The guinea pig lateral superior olive was examined immunocytochemically using antisera against enkephalin and choline acetyltransferase sequentially on the same sections. A colocalization of choline acetyltransferase-like and enkephalin-like immunoreactivities was found in cells of the lateral superior olive that give rise to the lateral system of olivocochlear efferents. Only choline acetyltra...

UNLABELLED : The emergence of multidrug resistant tuberculosis (MDRTB) highlights the urgent need to understand the mechanisms of resistance to the drugs and to develop a new arena of therapeutics to treat the disease. Ethambutol, isonazid, pyrazinamide, rifampicin are first line of drugs against TB, whereas aminoglycoside, polypeptides, fluoroquinolone, ethionamide are important second line of...