Chorionic villus cDNA library displays expression of butyrylcholinesterase: Putative genetic disposition for ecological danger

Haim Zakut*, Judith Lieman‐Hurwitz, Ronit Zamir, Lilian Sindell, Dalia Ginzberg, Hermona Soreq

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

13 Scopus citations

Abstract

Gene expression in chorionic villi may be particularly vulnerable to environmental exposure to poisonous substances. To reveal villus gene products which are thus subject to poisoning, molecular cloning was employed. A single sample of apparently normal chorionic villi (approximately 40 mg, from 9 weeks' gestation) was microscopically dissected to ensure purity of fetal tissue. Total RNA was extracted by isothiocyanate and directly employed for reverse transcription. A chorionic villus cDNA library was constructed from this preparation in the phage vector lambda gt10 and contained 60 000 independent recombinants. In the present study, this cDNA library was screened with labelled cDNA probes encoding human butyrylcholinesterase (BCHE) and acetylcholinesterase (ACHE). Nine BCHEcDNA clones were isolated out of 1.6 × 106 phages (5.7 × 10−6 of screened recombinants) and exhibited similar restriction patterns to those observed for BCHEcDNA from other human tissues. In contrast, no ACHEcDNA clones could be found in 4.0 × 106 screened phages (<2.5 × 10−6 of recombinants). These findings demonstrate efficient transcription (similar to fetal brain levels) from the BCHE gene but not from the ACHE gene in chorionic villi, and support the notion that BCHE is involved in chorionic villus growth and development.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)597-607
Number of pages11
JournalPrenatal Diagnosis
Volume11
Issue number8
DOIs
StatePublished - Aug 1991

Keywords

  • Butyrylcholinesterase mRNA
  • cDNA library
  • Chorionic villi
  • Organophosphorous poisoning

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