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Characterization of a null mutation in ace‐1 , the gene encoding class A acetylcholinesterase in the nematode Caenorhabditis elegans
Author(s) -
Talesa Vincenzo,
Culetto Emmanuel,
Schirru Nathalie,
Bernardi Henri,
Fedon Yann,
Toutant Jean-Pierre,
Arpagaus Martine
Publication year - 1995
Publication title -
febs letters
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.593
H-Index - 257
eISSN - 1873-3468
pISSN - 0014-5793
DOI - 10.1016/0014-5793(94)01343-y
Subject(s) - acetylcholinesterase , caenorhabditis elegans , null allele , nonsense mutation , gene , mutant , genetics , mutation , biology , microbiology and biotechnology , enzyme , biochemistry , missense mutation
Two genes ( ace‐1 and ace‐2 ) encode two major classes (A and B) of acetylcholinesterase (AChE) in the nematode Caenorhabditis elegans . A null mutation in ace‐1 (allele p1000 ) suppresses all acetylcholinesterase activity of class A. We have identified an opal mutation TG (W99)→TG (Stop) as the only alteration in the mutated gene. This leads to a truncated protein (98 instead of 620 amino acids) with no enzymatic activity. The mutation also reduces the level of ace‐1 transcripts to only 10% of that in wild‐type animals. This most likely results from a destabilization of mRNA containing the nonsense message. In contrast, compensation of class B by class A AChE in the null mutant strain ace‐2 takes place with unchanged ace‐1 mRNA level and enzymatic activity similar to class A AChE.