A COMPARATIVE STUDY OF MULTIPLICITY OF MAMMALIAN ESTERASES

1. 1Multiple forms of soluble esterase activity have been resolved in horse, sheep, ox and possum tissue extracts and sera. 2. 2.By comparing esterase zymograms from different tissues and from different species, it is apparent that the distribution and multiplicity of esterase activity is tissue and species specific. 3. 3.By means of substrate and inhibitor studies, the esterase multiple forms have been characterized into four main classes: carboxylesterases, arylesterases, acetylesterases, and cholinesterases. Each of these can be considered as an isoenzymic group. 4. 4.Evidence is presented for further differentiation of activity within these isoenzymic divisions giving 2 groups of arylesterases, 3 groups of cholinesterases, and 5 groups of carboxylesterases. © 1968.