Choline acetyltransferase: further studies on the reverse reaction

In order to further characterize the reaction mechanism of brain ChAc in its purified form, we have investigated the reverse reaction of ChAc in terms of pH optimum, salt effects, and substrate kinetics using a radiochemical assay. We directly measured the reaction product acetylcoenzyme A which was separated from the substrate ACh by a cation exchange column. Dowex 50W-X8 (Na+ form). The reverse reaction of ChAc was linear with incubation time up to 40 minutes, and with enzyme protein concentration up to 5 micrograms. It had a pH optimum at 7.0. At 0.22 M the monovalent chloride and bromide salts activated the reverse ChAc activity by 23-47% but the fluoride and iodide salts inhibited the reverse enzyme activity by 10-30%. Kinetic studies in the absence of salt showed that KACh was 0.62 +/- 0.06 mM, KCoA . SH was 12.68 +/- 1.21 microM, and Vmax was 11.6 +/- 1.0 nmol AcCoA/mg protein/min. These data are in disagreement with the values reported on partially purified ChAc from bovine brain by Glover and Potter [1971] and Hersh [1980]. This indicates that further investigations are necessary to clarify or resolve these differences.