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Updated: Aug 11, 2026

Analysis of Translation in the Developing Mouse Brain using Polysome Profiling
08:38

Analysis of Translation in the Developing Mouse Brain using Polysome Profiling

Published on: May 22, 2021

Expression of cholinesterase gene(s) in human brain tissues: translational evidence for multiple mRNA species

H Soreq, D Zevin-Sonkin, N Razon

    The EMBO Journal
    |June 1, 1984
    PubMed

    Insights

    Human nervous system cholinesterases (ChEs) exhibit molecular heterogeneity originating from distinct messenger RNA (mRNA) levels. Different mRNA sizes from brain tissues produce varied ChE activities in Xenopus oocytes.

    Area of Science:

    • Neuroscience
    • Molecular Biology
    • Biochemistry

    Background:

    • Human nervous system cholinesterases (ChEs) display significant molecular heterogeneity.
    • Understanding the origins of this heterogeneity is crucial for neurological research.

    Purpose of the Study:

    • To investigate the mRNA origins of molecular heterogeneity in human nervous system cholinesterases (ChEs).
    • To determine if different ChE activities stem from distinct mRNA populations.

    Main Methods:

    • Xenopus oocytes were microinjected with unfractionated brain mRNA from gliomas, meningiomas, and embryonic brain.
    • Sucrose gradient fractionation was used to isolate different size classes of ChE-inducing mRNAs.
    • Cholinesterase activity and substrate specificities in oocytes were analyzed using selective inhibitors.

    Main Results:

    • Three distinct size classes of ChE-inducing mRNAs (32S, 20S, 9S) were identified.
    • The abundance of these mRNA classes varied across different human brain tissue sources.
    • Both 'true' and 'pseudo' cholinesterase activities were detected in mRNA-injected oocytes, with distinct mRNA size distributions for each.
    • This indicates that different mRNAs encode for various ChE types.

    Conclusions:

    • The molecular heterogeneity of human nervous system ChEs originates not only from post-translational modifications but also from distinct mRNA populations.
    • Different mRNA sizes correlate with specific cholinesterase activities, suggesting differential gene expression and translation.

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