An induction effect of heat shock on the transcript of globular acetylcholinesterase in NG108-15 cells

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 (AChET) interacts with proline-rich membrane anchor (PRiMA) to form a globular tetrameric form (G4 form). In this study, we examined the effects of heat shock on the transcription and protein assembly of AChET in cultured NG108-15 cells. The transcription of AChET was rapidly induced by heat shock at 40 °C, reaching a 15-fold increase in 3 h and decreasing thereafter. On the other hand, the level of PRiMA mRNA was not affected after the heat shock. In parallel with AChET mRNA, the enzymatic activity of cellular AChE, in terms of G1 and G2 forms, was increased after heat shock; however, the PRiMA-linked G4 remained unchanged. These results suggest that heat shock can induce the expression level of AChET by the regulation of AChET transcripts in NG108-15 cells.