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Changes in the acetylcholinesterase and choline acetyltransferase activities in the early development of the chick embryo

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Summary

Acetylcholinesterase (AChE, EC 3.1.1.7) and choline acetyltransferase (CAT, EC 2.3.1.6) activities where studied in the early development of the chick embryo. A sharp increase in AChE activity occurred in the gastrulating embryo. The highest AChE activity was associated with hypoblast cells. By sucrose density gradient centrifugation three molecular forms of AChE with sedimentation coefficients 4.7 S, 6.8 S and 10.9 S were determined. During the gastrulation there was no remarkable change in the activity of CAT. A two-fold decrease in the CAT activity occurred at the end of gastrulation.

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Laasberg, T., Neuman, T. Changes in the acetylcholinesterase and choline acetyltransferase activities in the early development of the chick embryo. Wilhelm Roux' Archiv 194, 306–310 (1985). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01152177

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