Stimulation of carnitine acetyltransferase in PC12 cells by nerve growth factor: Relationship to choline acetyltransferase stimulation

The activity of carnitine acetyltransferase (acetyl-CoA:L-carnitine O-acetyltransferase) was found to be at least 50-fold higher than that of choline acetyltransferase in PC12 cells. Nerve growth factor stimulated both enzymes in a parallel manner with respect to concentration of NGF and culture time. The stimulation of both enzymes was completely inhibited by 10 M 6-thioguanine, an inhibitor of protein kinase N. Results are discussed with reference to the hypothesis that the two enzymes may be functionally related in neuronal cells.