Overview:

Choline acetyltransferase (ChAT )is a neuronal enzyme which catalyzes the reaction between Acetyl CoA and choline resulting in the formation of acetylcholine. It is therefore found primarily in cholinergic neurons making it a valuable marker for diseases associated with decreased cholinergic function such as Schizophrenia, Alzheimer disease (AD) and Down syndrome (2). Decreased choline acetyltransferase activity in particular has been shown in Schizophrenic subjects (1). It has furthermore been demonstrated that in patients with AD, there are significantly lower levels of cortical ChAT that correlate with severity of the disease as measured by loss of neuropsychological function (3).

References:

1. Karson CN, Casanova MF, Kleinman JE, Griffin WS Choline acetyltransferase in schizophrenia. Am. J.Psychiatry 150:454-459. 1993.

2. Holt DJ, et al Evidence for a deficit in cholinergic interneurons in the striatum in schizophrenia. Neuroscience. 94(1):21-31. 1999.

3. Baskin DS, et al, Brain choline acetyltransferase and mental function in Alzheimer disease. Arch Neurol. 56:1121-1123.1999.