Derrington_1993_Neuroreport_4_317

The subcellular distribution of the cholinergic-specific gangliosidic Chol-1 antigens in rat brain has been compared with that of total ganglioside as a marker for neural plasma membranes, particle-bound choline acetyltransferase (ChAT) as a synaptosomal marker, and supernatant ChAT as a marker for neuronal perikaryal cytoplasm. Over 50% of brain Chol-1 was recovered in a synaptosome fraction prepared by a standard density-gradient method. The specific concentration of Chol-1 relative to protein or major gangliosides was also highest in the synaptosome fraction and low in a supernatant fraction which contained most of the neuronal plasma membrane fragments. ChAT was likewise mainly recovered in the synaptosome fraction but its relative concentration there was significantly less than that of Chol-1 (p < 0.01).