Chen_2010_Chem.Biol.Interact_187_106

Heat shock response, an induced transcription of a set of genes in response to high temperature, occurs in all organisms. In neurons, the catalytic subunit of acetylcholinesterase (AChE(T)) interacts with proline-rich membrane anchor (PRiMA) to form a globular tetrameric form (G(4) form). In this study, we examined the effects of heat shock on the transcription and protein assembly of AChE(T) in cultured NG108-15 cells. The transcription of AChE(T) was rapidly induced by heat shock at 40 degrees C, reaching a 15-fold increase in 3h and decreasing thereafter. On the other hand, the level of PRiMA mRNA was not affected after the heat shock. In parallel with AChE(T) mRNA, the enzymatic activity of cellular AChE, in terms of G(1) and G(2) forms, was increased after heat shock; however, the PRiMA-linked G(4) remained unchanged. These results suggest that heat shock can induce the expression level of AChE(T) by the regulation of AChE(T) transcripts in NG108-15 cells.