Identification and analysis of the human choline acetyltransferase gene promoter

Choline acetyltransferase (ChAT) is the key enzyme responsible for the synthesis of the neurotransmitter acetylcholine and is reduced in various central neurodegenerative diseases. From a previously selected 12.6 kb human choline acetyltransferase (hChAT) genomic clone, we have identified and characterized a promoter region of 895 bp. Sequence analysis revealed the presence of a TATA-like box, a CAAT box and several putative regulatory responsive elements. Three transcription initiation sites were determined by primer extension analysis. The Northern blot of poly(A)+ RNA, showed a single band of 2300 Nt in the human nucleus accumbens and facial nucleus. By using transient transfections into NE-1-115 and COS-1 cells of the 5' flanking region of the hChAT gene we identified a sequence of 66 bp upstream of the transcription start site which confers responsiveness to proto-oncogenes c-Fos/c-Jun. These data suggest that the hChAT gene may be a physiological target of c-Fos/c-Jun and therefore may play a role in neuronal responses to various stimuli.