Abstract
Two cDNA sequences containing open reading frames encoding two types of acetylcholinesterase (AChE) precursors, Ace-orthologous AChE (AO-AChE) and Ace-paralogous AChE (AP-AChE), with 635 residues and 702 residues, respectively, were determined in Aedes albopictus by PCR-based techniques. The partial and whole cDNAs for AO-AChE and AP-AChE, respectively, were also sequenced from a cultured cell line of mosquito, NIAS-AeAl-2, derived from Ae. albopictus neonatal larvae. Comparing the sequences of the respective AChEs between cultured cells and mosquito whole body extracts, many nucleotide polymorphisms were found in both AChE cDNAs but only one amino acid substitution. The expression level of AChE genes in the cultured cells was low, 1/2 and 1/7 that of the mosquito body for AO-AChE and AP-AChE, respectively. The expression ratio of AO-AChE/AP-AChE was 1/2 in the cultured cells. AP-AChE genes was more highly expressed than AO-AChE genes in both cultured cells and the mosquito body. In an enzyme assay, the activity of AChE per protein in the cultured cells was 1/8 that of the mosquito body. The function of AChE in cultured cells is discussed based on the present and previous papers.
