Molecular cloning of acetylcholinesterase gene from Salicornia europaea L.

“Salicornia europaea” increases acetylcholinesterase (AChE) accompanied by salt accumulation during their growth. The plant acetylcholine (ACh)-mediated system in Salicornia could be responsible for transport of ions through channels in a manner similar to the animal systems. In this study, Salicornia AChE gene was identified by RT-PCR using degenerate primers designed based on previously cloned maize and siratro AChE genes. The full-length cDNA of Salicornia AChE was 1,536 nucleotides, encoding a 387-residue protein that includes a 28-residue signal sequence. In silico research presumed that Salicornia AChE is targeted to the secretory pathway via the endoplasmic reticulum.