Genomic structure, organization and localization of the acetylcholinesterase locus of the olive fruit fly,Bactrocera oleae

Abstract

AbstractAcetylcholinesterase (AChE), encoded by theacegene, is a key enzyme of cholinergic neurotransmission. Insensitive acetylcholinesterase (AChE) has been shown to be responsible for resistance to OPs and CBs in a number of arthropod species, including the most important pest of olives trees, the olive fruit flyBactrocera oleae. In this paper, the organization of theB. oleae acelocus, as well as the structural and functional features of the enzyme, are determined. The organization of the gene was deduced by comparison to theacecDNA sequence ofB. oleaeand the organization of the locus inDrosophila melanogaster. A similar structure between insectacegene has been found, with conserved exon-intron positions and junction sequences. TheB. oleae acelocus extends for at least 75 kb, consists of ten exons with nine introns and is mapped to division 34 of the chromosome arm IIL. Moreover, according to bioinformatic analysis, the Bo AChE exhibits all the common features of the insect AChE. Such structural and functional similarity among closely related AChE enzymes may implicate similarities in insecticide resistance mechanisms.