Heavy isotope-labeling study of the metabolism of monomeric and tetrameric acetylcholinesterase forms in the murine neuronal-like T 28 hybrid cell line.

We have used the method of heavy isotope labeling to study the metabolic turnover of acetylcholinesterase forms in the neuroblastoma-derived T 28 hybrid cells in their differentiated state. These cells contain mostly G1 and G4 forms, together with a small proportion of G2, and secrete all these forms into the culture medium. The cells maintained constant and equal levels of acetylcholinesterase, with the same proportions of molecular forms, in a medium containing heavy isotope-labeled amino acids and in a control light medium of similar composition. In addition, they secreted acetylcholinesterase at the same rate in both media. After transfer of the cells into the heavy medium, heavy isotope-labeled acetylcholinesterase molecules progressively replace preexisting light molecules. We analyzed heavy and light components of acetylcholinesterase for each of the two major G1 and G4 forms, by reconstructing the pattern obtained in sucrose gradient differential sedimentation, using combinations of weighted elementary distributions. Heavy molecules were detected in cellular extracts after about 30 min for G1 and 3 h for G4. Both heavy forms also appeared in the medium after a lag of about 3 h. The cellular complement of G1 was renewed much faster than that of G4, the levels of the light forms being reduced to 50% of the original level after 3.5 and 40 h, respectively. Each of these forms appeared to consist of several metabolic pools, and we present simplified models which describe their possible relationships.