CLONING, SEQUENCING AND FUNCTIONAL EXPRESSION OF AN ACETYLCHOLINESTERASE GENE FROM THE YELLOW-FEVER MOSQUITO AEDES-AEGYPTI

A degenerate PCR strategy was used to isolate a fragment of the acetyl cholinesterase gene (Ace) homolog from Aedes aegypti and screen for a cDNA clone containing the complete open reading frame of the gene. The predicted amino acid sequence of the Aedes gene shares 64% identity w ith Ace from Dr osophila and 87% identity with the acetylcholinesteras e gene from another mosquito species Anopheles stephensi. High levels of expression of the Aedes gene were achieved by infection of Sf21 cel ls with a recombinant baculovirus containing the Aedes Ace cDNA. The c atalytic properties and sensitivity of the recombinant enzyme to insec ticide inhibition are described and discussed in relation to the role of insensitive AChE in conferring resistance to organophosphorus and c arbamate insecticides.