Cloning and analysis of chicken acetylcholinesterase transcripts from muscle and brain

We have isolated cDNA clones from an embryonic chicken muscle cDNA library which encodes the complete catalytic T subunit of acetylcholinesterase. The deduced polypeptide comprises 767 amino acids, shows approximately 60% homology to acetylcholinesterases from other vertebrates and contains a 155 amino acid sequence inserted into the middle of the peptide which is unique to the chicken enzyme. Northern blots of embryonic chicken muscle and adult brain show three transcripts approximately 4.5, 5.5, and 6.0 kb hybridizing to a cDNA fragment of AChE. The 6.0 kb transcript is expressed transiently in embryonic muscle and is a major transcript in adult brain.