Data from: Identification, baculoviral expression and biochemical characterization of a novel cholinesterase of Amblyomma americanum (Acari: Ixodidae)

A novel cholinesterase (ChE) of the lone star tick, Amblyomma americanum, was expressed in Sf21 insect cells using the baculoviral expression system and biochemically characterized. The enzyme (AaChE) hydrolyzes butyrylthiocholine about 6 times faster than acetylthiocholine at 120 micromolar substrate concentration. The enzyme is present in extracts of tick synganglion and salivary glands based on RT-PCR, enzyme activity, and Western blotting. Data is presented from cholinesterase assays utilized to characterize enzyme properties and Michaelis-Menton values for substrates acetylthiocholine and butyrylthiocholine. Sensitivity of the enzyme to various inhibitors was also characterized. All enzyme kinetic data was obtained using the initial enzyme velocities (V0) using only the linear activity portion of each assay). Inhibition assays utilized 15 minute preincubation of the enzyme at ambient temperature with various concentrations of inhibitor in the absence of substrate with initiation of the assay by addition of substrate mix (and simultaneous dilution of inhibitor) to facilitate measurement of initial velocity by extending the linear portion of enzyme activity in the assay. A text README file is included listing titles and names of files, including a data dictionary defining terms and acronyms.