Abstract
We have measured the steady state levels of choline acetyltransferase (ChAT, EC 2.3.1.6) mRNA during different developmental stages ofDrosophila melanogaster using a ChAT specific cRNA probe. ChAT mRNA was first detected approximately 6–7 h after oviposition, increased until the 1st–2nd larval instar, decreased into early pupal stages and increased again during late pupation, reaching a maximum in adults. Northern analysis showed a major RNA band with a Mr of 4.7 kilobases and Western analysis also showed a single major 75 kD protein band at all developmental stages. Our results support the hypothesis that a major point of regulation of ChAT expression may be at the transcriptional level.
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Carbini, L.A., Muñoz Maines, V.J. & Salvaterra, P.M. Developmental expression of choline acetyltransferase mRNA inDrosophila . Neurochem Res 15, 1089–1096 (1990). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01101709
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01101709