Choline Acetyltransferase
Choline Acetyltransferase (CHAT, also known as CHOACTase) is the enzyme that catalyses the synthesis of the neurotransmitter acetylcholine from acetyl CoA and choline at cholinergic synapses. It is a characteristic feature of cholinergic neurons. Browse Assay Genie's current range of Choline Acetyltransferase research reagents below, or read on for the biology behind the target.
Choline Acetyltransferase catalyses the reversible synthesis of acetylcholine (ACh) from acetyl CoA and choline at cholinergic synapses. Because it produces the neurotransmitter acetylcholine, the enzyme is a characteristic feature of cholinergic neurons, and it is widely used as a way to identify and study this neuronal population. Researchers working on cholinergic signalling often measure Choline Acetyltransferase with a Choline Acetyltransferase antibody or a Choline Acetyltransferase ELISA kit.
The human CHAT gene encodes a protein of the carnitine/choline acetyltransferase family, which HGNC places in the choline/carnitine acyltransferase family. Its enzyme classification is EC 2.3.1.6. The gene is formally named choline O-acetyltransferase, with the alias CHOACTase and the previous name choline acetyltransferase. Orthologues are found in mouse and rat, both named Chat. Multiple transcript variants encoding different isoforms have been described, and some of these variants have been shown to encode more than one isoform.
Choline Acetyltransferase has clear disease relevance. Changes in cholinergic neurons may explain some of the symptoms of Alzheimer's disease, and polymorphisms in the CHAT gene have been associated with Alzheimer's disease and mild cognitive impairment. Mutations in the gene are associated with congenital myasthenic syndrome associated with episodic apnoea. These links make the Choline Acetyltransferase protein a useful subject for both neurodegeneration and neuromuscular research.
Choline Acetyltransferase is a characteristic feature of cholinergic neurons, making it a relevant target for studying this neuronal population.
The enzyme catalyses acetylcholine formation from acetyl CoA and choline at cholinergic synapses, central to neurotransmitter biosynthesis studies.
Changes in cholinergic neurons may explain some Alzheimer's symptoms, and CHAT polymorphisms are associated with the disease and mild cognitive impairment.
Mutations in CHAT are associated with congenital myasthenic syndrome with episodic apnoea, linking the enzyme to neuromuscular disease.
Choline Acetyltransferase catalyses the reversible synthesis of acetylcholine from acetyl CoA and choline at cholinergic synapses. It is classed as EC 2.3.1.6 and is a characteristic feature of cholinergic neurons, which use acetylcholine as their neurotransmitter.
The HGNC symbol is CHAT, the official name is choline O-acetyltransferase, the alias is CHOACTase and the previous name was choline acetyltransferase. Multiple transcript variants encode different isoforms, and some variants have been shown to encode more than one isoform.
CHAT polymorphisms are associated with Alzheimer's disease and mild cognitive impairment, and mutations cause congenital myasthenic syndrome with episodic apnoea. Mouse and rat both have a Chat orthologue; check the datasheet of any product for its validated reactivity.
Other cholinergic pathway, neurotransmitter-synthesis and neurodegeneration targets with products at Assay Genie.
Gene and protein annotations from HGNC, NCBI Gene and UniProt P28329; product specifications from Assay Genie datasheets.