MOLECULAR-BIOLOGY OF THE VESICULAR ACH TRANSPORTER

The cholinergic synapse has long been a model for biochemical studies of neurotransmission. The molecules that are responsible for synaptic transmission are being identified rapidly. The vesicular transporter f or ACh, which is responsible for the concentration of ACh within synap tic vesicles, has been characterized recently, both at the molecular a nd functional level. Definitive identification of the cloned gene invo lved genetics of Caenorhabditis elegans, the specialized Torpedo elect romotor system, and expression in mammalian tissue culture. Comparison of the vesicular transporter for ACh with the vesicular transporters for monoamines demonstrates a new gene family. Gene mapping has demons trated a unique relationship between the genes for the vesicular ACh t ransporter and for choline acetyltransferase.