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PubMed1990

Metabolic fate of pancreas-derived cholesterol esterase in intestine: an in vitro study using Caco-2 cells.

Bile salt-stimulated cholesterol esterase is synthesized in the pancreatic acinar cells and is released into the intestinal lumen where it catalyzes cholesterol absorption. In the current study, Caco-2 cells were used as an in vitro model to study the interaction between the pancreatic cholesterol esterase with intestinal cells. Results showed that addition of increasing concentrations of cholesterol esterase in the incubation medium increased the uptake of micellar cholesteryl oleate by Caco-2 cells. The cholesterol esterase also increased the cellular uptake of the nonhydrolyzable cholesteryl linoleoyl ether. However, maximum uptake of the cholesteryl ether analog was 50% of that for cholesteryl oleate. The initial interaction of cholesterol esterase with Caco-2 cells was mediated by binding of the protein to a low affinity and high capacity binding site on the cell surface. Cholesterol esterase bound to the cell surface could be internalized via a monensin-sensitive mechanism. The cholesterol esterase taken up by the cells had a short residence time and was either degraded or was rapidly re-secreted from the cells. Chloroquine had no effect on the degradation or re-secretion of cholesterol esterase by Caco-2 cells, indicating that lysosomes were not involved with these processes. The cholesterol esterase taken up by the cells was not available to mediate further cholesterol uptake. These results indicated that the bile salt-stimulated cholesterol esterase secreted from pancreas could facilitate intestinal lipid absorption only transiently. The data suggest that the regulation of cholesterol esterase synthesis and secretion by the pancreas may be important for regulation of cholesterol absorption.

Adenocarcinoma↗

PubMed1984

Cholesterol absorption in rat intestine: role of cholesterol esterase and acyl coenzyme A:cholesterol acyltransferase.

Cholesterol esterase of pancreatic juice origin and acyl coenzyme A:cholesterol acyltransferase, both associated with the intestinal mucosa, are implicated in the extensive esterification of exogenous cholesterol during absorption. To assess the role of each enzyme, [4-14C]cholesterol absorption into mesenteric lymph of rats with normal mucosal levels of both esterification enzymes was compared with that of rats with normal acyl coenzyme A:cholesterol acyltransferase activity but deficient cholesterol esterase activity. The cholesterol esterase deficiency was accomplished by either surgical diversion of the pancreatic juice from the intestinal lumen or removal by specific immunoprecipitation of cholesterol esterase from the otherwise complete pancreatic juice. In the rats that were transferase-complete and esterase-deficient, cholesterol absorption into lymph and esterase activity in the mucosa were decreased an average of 83% and 75%, respectively, compared with rats complete with both esterification enzymes. Of the absorbed [4-14C]cholesterol in all rats, 82-90% was esterified and the mucosal levels of cholesterol esterase, even in the esterase-deficient rats, could readily account for this esterification. Because transferase activity was normal in rat intestine in which cholesterol esterase was deficient and cholesterol absorption was inhibited, transferase alone does not support the absorption of exogenous cholesterol in the absence of esterase. These results reconfirm the importance of esterification in the absorption of exogenous cholesterol and demonstrate that cholesterol esterase plays an essential role in the regulation of the absorption process.

Acyltransferases↗

PubMed1994

Dietary regulation of cholesterol esterase mRNA level in rat pancreas.

This study investigates the effect of a high fat/high cholesterol diet on cholesterol esterase biosynthesis in rat pancreas. Results showed that rats fed a high fat/high cholesterol diet, with or without bile salt supplementation, exhibited increased levels of pancreatic cholesterol esterase mRNA. An average of a 2-fold increase in cholesterol esterase mRNA was observed after 1 day of feeding the atherogenic diet. A maximal 3- to 4-fold induction was observed after 4 days on the special diet. The level of pancreatic cholesterol esterase mRNA declined subsequently, resulting in a new steady state level that remained significantly higher than cholesterol esterase mRNA level in control rat pancreas. The feeding of high fat diet without cholesterol, or high cholesterol diet without high fat content, did not result in significant increase in pancreatic cholesterol esterase mRNA when compared to that observed in control chow-fed animals. The increase in cholesterol esterase mRNA after high fat/high cholesterol feeding paralleled the increased in pancreatic lipase mRNA. The high fat/high cholesterol-induced increase in cholesterol esterase mRNA was due to increase rate of transcription, as demonstrated by nuclear run-on assays. Additionally, in vitro incubation experiments of pancreatic lobules with [35S]methionine showed higher rates of 35S-labeled cholesterol esterase synthesis with lobules from the high fat/high cholesterol-fed animals. Taken together, these results demonstrated that high fat/high cholesterol diets increased cholesterol esterase mRNA level and enzyme biosynthesis in rat pancreas. The coordinated regulation of cholesterol esterase with another lipid digestive enzyme, the pancreatic lipase, suggested an important role for these proteins in dietary lipid absorption through the gastrointestinal tract.

Animals↗

PubMed1977

Purification and characterization of two types of esterase from rat liver microsomes.

It was found that about 90% of the triacylglycerol lipase activity of a rat liver microsomal fraction was released by heparin treatment. The residual microsomal fraction contained about 95% of the esterase activity but little triacylglycerol lipase activity. Two kinds of esterase (esterases I and II) were purified from this residual fraction by DEAE-cellulose chromatography, hydroxyapatite chromatography, isoelectric focusing and Sephadex G-200 chromatography. The final preparations of esterases I and II, which were puri fied 70-and 140-fold, respectively, gave single protein bands on polyacrylamide gel and sodium dodecyl sulfate-gel electrophoreses. The molecular weights of esterases I and II were calculated to be about 70 000 and 160 000 by gel filtration of Sephadex G-200. Their isoelectric points were 5.82 and 6.32. Both esterases completely hydrolyzed short-chain triacylglycerols, such as tributyrylglycerol, but did not hydrolyze long-chain triacylglycerols. They preferentially hydrolyzed medium-chain-length 1-monoacylglycerols, such as 1-monocaprylylglycerol. Esterase I differed immunologically from esterase II and it was found to constitute about 30% of the total esterase activity in the microsomal fraction; esterase II constituted 50--60%. These results show the existence of two isozymes of esterase in the microsomal fraction.

Animals↗

PubMed1973

Isolation of two acetyl esterases from extracts of Bacillus subtilis.

Acrylamide gel electrophoresis of crude cellular extracts of Bacillus subtilis revealed the presence of two acetyl esterases. Esterase A, the slower migrating enzyme, was found to be present in both vegetative and sporulating cells, whereas esterase B activity was more abundant after exponential growth ceased. Both esterases were present in the supernatant fraction of lysed spheroplasts and in a disrupted spore preparation. Of four pleiotropic asporogenous mutants tested, three exhibited decreased esterase B activity. Esterases A and B were partially purified by differential precipitation and co-chromatographed on diethylaminoethyl (DEAE)-cellulose (pH 7.5) and DEAE-Sephadex (pH 8.5). By employing gel filtration chromatography, the two esterases were separated, and molecular weights of 160,000 and 51,000 were estimated for esterases A and B, respectively. Esterase A was further purified to electrophoretic homogeneity by differential heating and preparative starch block electrophoresis. Sodium dodecyl sulfate-acrylamide gel electrophoresis of purified esterase A yielded a single protein band with a molecular weight of 31,000. The pI values of esterases A and B were determined to be 6.4 and 5.4, respectively.

Acetylesterase↗

PubMed1986

Non-specific esterase: a specific and useful marker enzyme for Leydig cells from mature rats.

The presence of non-specific esterase activity is correlated with different Leydig cell characteristics: 3 beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase (3 beta-HSD), human chorionic gonadotrophin binding and LH-stimulated steroid production. This indicates that esterase can be used as a marker enzyme for Leydig cells. Esterase, however, has also been used as a marker enzyme for macrophages. We have compared, using biochemical and histochemical techniques, the esterase activity of Leydig cell preparations from mature and immature rats and of preparations enriched in testicular or peritoneal macrophages. Leydig cells were identified by staining for 3 beta-HSD, and macrophages by phagocytosis of fluorescent beads. Leydig cell preparations from mature rats showed an approximately 400-fold higher esterase activity than peritoneal macrophage preparations and an approximately 50-fold higher activity than testicular macrophage preparations. Leydig cell preparations from mature rats showed a 60-fold higher esterase activity than Leydig cell preparations from immature rats. Differences in esterase activity were also demonstrated histochemically. Leydig cells from mature rats showed positive esterase staining after 30 s at room temperature. Testicular macrophages showed esterase activity after staining for 3 min. Only approximately 25% of the 3 beta-HSD-positive cells from immature rats showed esterase activity after staining for 6 min. Esterase is therefore a useful marker enzyme for Leydig cells from mature rats and can be of help in studies concerning the development of these cells.

3-Hydroxysteroid Dehydrogenases↗

PubMed1995

Tissue distribution of cocaine methyl esterase and ethyl transferase activities: correlation with carboxylesterase protein.

The tissue distribution of cocaine methyl esterase and ethanol-dependent ethyl transferase activities was determined in the rat and compared to the tissue distribution of three distinct non-specific hydrolases. Rates of formation of benzoylecgonine from cocaine and cocaethylene from ethanol and cocaine were measured in serum and tissue homogenate-supernatants of the brain, heart, kidney, liver, lung and spleen. The tissue distribution of three nonspecific esterases, A, B and C, was defined by nondenaturing gel electrophoresis and measuring the hydrolysis of 4-methylumbelliferyl acetate in the gels. Immunoreactive protein was localized by using Western blot analysis with polyclonal rabbit antihuman liver cocaine methyl esterase antibody after denaturing and nondenaturing gel electrophoresis. The rat liver, lung, kidney and heart exhibited cocaine methyl esterase and ethyl transferase activities and immunoreactive protein. The brain had cocaine methyl esterase activity but no ethyl transferase activity; neither activity was found in serum or spleen. The dominant immunoreactive bands in the liver, lung, kidney and heart comigrated with the 59 kD band of purified human liver cocaine methyl esterase. The rat liver, lung and kidney exhibited a band of nonspecific esterase activity that migrated with purified human liver cocaine methyl esterase and rat hydrolase A. These observations suggest that rat hydrolase A is similar to human cocaine methyl esterase. The lack of straight forward correlation between cocaine methyl esterase activity and immunoreactive protein and nonspecific esterase activity suggests that more than one enzyme catalyzes the hydrolysis of cocaine to benzoylecgonine in the rat.

Animals↗

PubMed1997

Molecular modeling of the structures of human and rat pancreatic cholesterol esterases.

Structural models have been generated for rat and human cholesterol esterases by molecular modeling. For rat cholesterol esterase, three separate models were generated according to the following procedure: (1) the cholesterol esterase sequence was aligned with those of three template enzymes: Torpedo californica acetylcholinesterase, Geotrichum candidum lipase and Candida rugosa lipase; (2) the X-ray structure coordinates of the three template enzymes were used to construct cholesterol esterase models by amino acid replacements of matched sequence positions and by making sequence insertions and deletions as required; (3) bad contracts in each of the cholesterol esterase models were relaxed by molecular dynamics and mechanics; (4) the three cholesterol esterase models were merged into one by arithmetic averaging of atomic coordinates; (5) Ramachandran analysis indicated that the model generated from the AChE template possessed the best set of phi/psi angles. Therefore, this model was subjected to molecular dynamics, with harmonic constraints imposed on the C(alpha) coordinates to drive them toward the coordinates of the averaged model. (6) Subsequent relaxation by molecular mechanics produced the final rat cholesterol esterase model. A model for human cholesterol esterase was produced by repeating steps 1-3 above, albeit with the rat cholesterol esterase model as the template. Hydrophobic and electrostatic analyses of the rat and human cholesterol esterase models suggest the structural origins of molecular recognition of hydrophobic substrates and interfaces, of charged interfaces, and of bile salt activators.

Animals↗

PubMed1987

Cholesteryl esterase activities in ventricles, isolated heart cells and aorta of the rat.

Cholesteryl esterase activities were determined in homogenates of rat heart (ventricles), isolated, calcium-tolerant, cardiac myocytes and aortic tissue and were compared with acid and neutral triglyceride lipase activities in these fractions. Using cholesteryl oleate/phosphatidylcholine/taurocholate emulsions and digitonin pretreatment of the enzyme fractions, acid and neutral cholesteryl esterase activities were measured in all tissue preparations. In contrast to the acid and neutral triglyceridase and acid cholesteryl esterase activity, the neutral cholesteryl esterase activity was subject to substrate inhibition. Upon isolation of cardiac myocytes, and in contrast with the recovery of neutral triglyceride lipase activity, only a small portion of the neutral cholesteryl esterase (6%) was recovered, suggesting that nonmyocyte neutral cholesteryl esterase activity markedly contributes to the relatively high activity detectable in whole ventricular homogenates. The recovery of large amounts of neutral cholesteryl esterase activity in the supernatant of collagenase-digested heart tissue, obtained during the isolation of myocytes, which is also markedly enriched in activities of two endothelial marker enzymes (5'-nucleotidase and angiotensine-converting enzyme) may indicate the predominant contribution of neutral cholesteryl esterase activity from coronary endothelial cells to this activity detectable in ventricular homogenates. Relative to the activity in ventricular and myocyte homogenates, aorta homogenates possessed the highest specific neutral cholesteryl esterase activity. We propose that in addition to coronary endothelium, smooth muscle cells also contribute to the neutral cholesteryl esterase activity in ventricular homogenates.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

5'-Nucleotidase↗

PubMed2004

Mechanism of differential inhibition of hepatic and pancreatic fatty acid ethyl ester synthase by inhibitors of serine-esterases: in vitro and cell culture studies.

Earlier, we have shown that rat hepatic and pancreatic fatty acid ethyl ester (FAEE) synthases are structurally and functionally similar to rat liver carboxylesterase (CE) and pancreatic cholesterol esterase (ChE), respectively. We have also reported that only hepatic FAEE synthase is inhibited by tri-o-tolylphosphate (TOTP) in vivo and in human hepatocellular carcinoma (HepG2) cells. The metabolism of TOTP is a prerequisite for the inhibition of hepatic FAEE synthase as well as esterase activity. To further elucidate the mechanism of such differential inhibition by inhibitors of serine esterases, we synthesized two metabolites of TOTP, 2-(o-cresyl)-4H-1:3:2-benzodioxaphosphoran-2-one (CBDP; cyclic saligenin phosphate) and di-o-tolyl-o-( proportional, variant -hydroxy)tolylphosphate (HO-TOTP), and one ChE inhibitor, 3-benzyl-6-chloro-2-pyrone (3-BCP). The inhibitory effect of CBDP, HO-TOTP, and 3-BCP on FAEE synthase and esterase activity was studied using rat hepatic and pancreatic postnuclear (PN) fractions, commercial porcine hepatic CE and pancreatic ChE, and in HepG2 and rat pancreatic tumor (AR42J) cell lines. Only HO-TOTP and CBDP inhibited FAEE synthase as well as esterase activity of hepatic PN fraction and commercial CE and ChE in a concentration-dependent manner, and the inhibition was found to be irreversible. However, no inhibition was found in pancreatic PN fraction by both TOTP metabolites and 3-BCP. Although 3-BCP inhibited only the esterase activity of commercial ChE in a concentration-dependent manner, the activity was reversible within 30 min of incubation. Studies with HepG2 cells also showed a significant inhibition of FAEE synthase-esterase activity by CBDP and HO-TOTP within 15 min of incubation, while no inhibition was observed in AR42J cells. 3-BCP did not inhibit FAEE synthase-esterase activity either in HepG2 or AR42J cells. Such differential inhibitory effect of the TOTP metabolites on hepatic and pancreatic FAEE synthase-esterase is supported by our earlier in vivo and in vitro studies. Further investigations are needed to understand the biochemical mechanism(s) of inactivation of TOTP metabolites and 3-BCP in the pancreas and AR42J cells towards FAEE synthase-esterase activities.

Acyltransferases↗

PubMed2002

Algal esterase activity as a biomeasure of environmental degradation in a freshwater creek.

This study investigated the potential for using algal esterase activity of Microcystis aeruginosa and Selenastrum capricornutum as a rapid measure of the biological effects of acid mine drainage (AMD) in a South Australian stream (Australia) also affected by sewage pollution and dry-land salinity. Algal bioassays were based on the non-fluorescent substrate, fluorescein diacetate (FDA) which is metabolised by esterases to the fluorescent product, fluorescein. Esterase activity was interpreted as the mean rate of conversion of FDA to fluorescein and expressed as a percentage of the rate achieved by control algae (%FDAC). Flow cytometry was used to measure the fluorescence of individual algal cells, enabling differentiation of three esterase activity states (low=S(1), normal and stimulated) and calculation of the percentage of algal cells in each activity state relative to that found for control algae (e.g. %S(1)). Algal esterase activity responded rapidly to AMD-affected water but also to increased conductivity (associated with dry-land salinity) and nutrient concentrations (associated with sewage). Exposure to AMD-affected water for 1 h reduced %FDAC by 30-70%, and increased %S(1) by 60-90%, a depression of esterase activity that was maintained over 24 h. A similar depression of esterase activity occurred in both algae exposed to comparatively high-conductivity water (ca. 20 mS cm(-1)) for 1 h but the algae recovered from this 'shock' within 24 h. The %FDAC of S. capricornutum increased from 66 to 158% of control values after a 24 h exposure to nutrient-enriched water sampled downstream from a sewage treatment plant, despite the fact that the alga was grown in nutrient-sufficient culture. The combination of cyanobacterial (M. aeruginosa) and green (S. capricornutum) algal cultures with exposure times of 1 and 24 h was successful in distinguishing between the three types of pollution. Correlation of esterase activity measures with water quality parameters indicated that the clearest and least equivocal biological measure of AMD for the study area was the %S(1) for M. aeruginosa after a 24 h exposure. The use of the flow cytometer to define a low esterase activity state was therefore successful in clarifying the response to AMD-affected water. The study demonstrates the successful application of algal esterase activity bioassays, in combination with flow cytometry, to rapidly assess the toxicity of AMD-affected waters and to differentiate this response from the effects of other pollutants (increased nutrients and conductivity).

Animals↗

PubMed2002

Cholesterol esterase accelerates intestinal cholesterol absorption.

Mechanisms of acceleration of cholesterol absorption by cholesterol esterase were investigated in various experimental conditions. Lymphatic recovery of cholesterol intubated as a micellar solution containing phosphatidylcholine (PC) into the duodenum was enhanced by the co-administration of cholesterol esterase in rats drained of bile and pancreatic juice. However, no accelerated incorporation was observed when cholesterol was solubilized in PC-depleted micelles. Cholesterol esterase dose-dependently accelerated the incorporation of cholesterol into differentiated Caco-2 cells, only when cholesterol was solubilized in PC-containing micelles. The accelerated incorporation of cholesterol into Caco-2 cells by cholesterol esterase disappeared when the enzyme was preincubated with a suicide inhibitor of cholesterol esterase. Cholesterol esterase has an activity as phospholipase A(2). When 10% of PC in bile salt micelles was replaced by lysophosphatidylcholine (lysoPC), the incorporation of cholesterol into Caco-2 cells was significantly accelerated. Cholesterol esterase enhanced the incorporation of micellar cholesterol into brush border membranes prepared from the rat jejunum. The addition of cholesterol esterase to bile salt micelles accelerated the release of micellar cholesterol in a dose-dependent manner, only when the micelles contained PC. These observations strongly suggest that cholesterol esterase hydrolyzes PC in bile salt micelles and thereby, accelerating the release of cholesterol from bile salt micelles. This may be a major cause of the acceleration of cholesterol absorption by cholesterol esterase.

Animals↗

PubMed1996

Bile salt stimulated cholesterol esterase increases uptake of high density lipoprotein-associated cholesteryl esters by HepG2 cells.

Bile salt stimulated cholesterol esterase is predominantly synthesized in the pancreas. However, this enzyme is also synthesized by the liver and was found to be present in plasma. The physiologic role of the systemic cholesterol esterase has not been clearly defined. In the current study, the human hepatoma cell line HepG2 was used as a model to determine the role of cholesterol esterase on hepatic uptake of high density lipoprotein (HDL)-associated cholesteryl esters. The results showed that hepatic uptake of the cholesteryl esters analog [3H]cholesteryl ether on reconstituted HDL was inhibited by anti-cholesterol esterase antibodies. The HDL-associated cholesteryl ester transported to HepG2 cells was also increased 2-fold in the presence of taurocholate, an activator of the cholesterol esterase. These results suggest that liver-derived cholesterol esterase may play an important role in cellular uptake of cholesteryl esters from HDL. This hypothesis was supported by demonstrating the ability of exogenously added cholesterol esterase to further enhance hepatic uptake of HDL-associated cholesteryl esters. The results of the current study also showed that cholesterol esterase increased free-to-esterified cholesterol ratio in the lipoprotein. Thus, alteration of HDL structure and composition contributes to the cholesterol esterase-induced cellular uptake of HDL-associated cholesteryl esters. On the basis of these observations, we propose that liver-derived cholesterol esterase may play an important role in lipoprotein metabolism.

Animals↗

PubMed2000

Characterization of Nasutitermes globiceps (Isoptera: Termitidae) esterases.

Esterases of Nasutitermes globiceps termites which occur on the Upper Paraná River floodplain (Brazil) were characterized. The electrophoretic pattern of the termite esterases Nasutitermes globiceps was obtained by starch gel electrophoresis. Six esterase activity zones were obtained and numbered, with esterase-1 being the most anodall one and esterase-6 the most cathodal one. Esterase-2 was detected only with substrates derived from the 4-methylumbelliferyl radical. The esterases of N. globiceps present wide substrate specificity, having been observed with substrates derived from alpha-naphthyl (acetate, propionate, and butyrate) and beta-naphthyl (acetate, butyrate) and from 4-methylumbelliferyl (acetate, propionate and butyrate). Esterase-6 is a caste-specific enzyme detected in soldiers. Only esterases 1, 3 and 5 were detected in nymphs. No genetic polymorphism has been detected thus far in the esterases of Nasutitermes globiceps. This study suggests that allozyme variation can be explored to understand Nasutitermes social structure.

Animals↗

PubMed1992

Heterologous expression and secretion of a Streptomyces scabies esterase in Streptomyces lividans and Escherichia coli.

The esterase gene from Streptomyces scabies FL1 was cloned and expressed in Streptomyces lividans on plasmids pIJ486 and pIJ702. In S. lividans, the esterase gene was expressed during later stages of growth and was regulated by zinc, as is seen with S. scabies. The 36-kDa secreted form of the esterase was purified from S. lividans. N-terminal amino acid sequencing indicated that the processing site utilized in S. lividans for the removal of the signal sequence was the same as that recognized for processing in S. scabies. Western blots (immunoblots) revealed the presence of a 40-kDa precursor form of the esterase in cytoplasmic extracts. A 23-amino-acid deletion was introduced into the putative signal sequence for the esterase. When this deleted form of the esterase was expressed in S. lividans, a cytoplasmic 38-kDa precursor protein was produced but no secreted esterase was detected, suggesting the importance of the deleted sequence for efficient processing and secretion. The esterase gene was also cloned into the pUC119 plasmid in Escherichia coli. By using the lac promoter sequence, the esterase gene was expressed, and the majority of the esterase was localized to the periplasmic space.

Alkaline Phosphatase↗

PubMed1996

Properties of partially purified esterase in human crystalline lens and variation in its enzyme activity during aging and with advance of senile cataract.

Two fractions of esterase were partially purified from the soluble fraction of normal human lens. The apparent molecular masses of these enzymes were approximately 200 kDa (esterase-I) and 30 kDa (esterase-II). The optimal pH of esterase-I and esterase-II was 6.0 and 7.5, and their respective optimal temperature were 43 degrees C and 46 degrees C. The K(m) values of esterase-I and esterase-II for 4-methylumbelliferyl-palmitate were 0.14 and 0.11 microM, respectively. The activity of these enzymes was inhibited by EDTA. The fraction with esterase activity also displayed lipase activity, although it is unknown whether the two enzymes are identical. Variation in the activity of these esterases was examined as a function of age for normal lens and as functions of age and coloration for senile cataractous lenses. The normal lenses maintained high enzyme activity up to the 60 age group and their enzyme activity then fell abruptly. In the senile cataractous lenses, enzyme activity was very low as compared to that of normal lenses of similar age. This shows that cataract formation may have a deleterious effect on the catalytic activity of esterase in the lens.

Aging↗

PubMed1980

Comparative study of human intestinal and hepatic esterases as related to enzymatic properties and hydrolizing activity for ester-type drugs.

In attempts to determine the exact role of intestinal esterase in the body, we purified esterases from human intestinal mucosa and liver, and compared the enzymatic properties and substrate specificities with those of purified esterases. Esterase from human liver was purified 58-fold, by treatment with butanol, DE-52 and DEAE Sephadex A-50 column chromatographies, Sephadex G-200 gel filtration, and isoelectric focusing. The purified preparation showed a single band by polyacylamide gel electrophoresis. The molecular weights of intestinal and hepatic esterases were determined to be 53,000-55,000 and 180,000, respectively, by gel filtration on Sephadex G-200. The activity of the purified intestinal and hepatic esterases was strongly inhibited by diethyl-p-nitrophenyl phosphate and diisopropyl fluorophosphate, and was not inhibited by eserine sulfate and p-chloromercuribenzoate. Moreover, the purified esterases hydrolyzed ester-type drugs such as aspirin, clofibrate, indanyl carbenicillin and procaine. Hepatic esterase had properties similar to those of intestinal esterase with respect to the sensitivity to organophosphate and the substrate specificity. However, the two purified esterases differed in properties such as molecular weight, isoelectric point, thermostability and optimal pH.

Esterases↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Subcellular distribution of esterases in the bovine eye.

The distribution of esterases within a cell can influence the rate and extent at which drugs containing ester linkages would be hydrolyzed. The objective of this study was to evaluate the subcellular distribution of esterases in the bovine eye. Ocular tissue homogenates were subjected to differential centrifugation to yield mitochondrial, microsomal and cytoplasmic fractions. Each fraction was then incubated with 1- or 2-naphthyl esters and its esterase activity determined. No esterase activity was detected in the mitochondrial fraction. For the corneal epithelium and iris-ciliary body about 80% of the esterase activity in the tissue homogenates, on a per milligram protein basis, was associated with the microsomes, the remainder was associated with the cytoplasm. Of the tissues studied, the iris-ciliary body had the highest esterase activity, 15 and 7 times that in the corneal epithelium and corneal stroma, respectively. The corneal endothelium was devoid of esterase activity. In comparison with the rabbit eye, the specific esterase activity in the bovine eye was lower. Surprisingly, unlike the rabbit, the corneal epithelium of the bovine eye was enzymatically less active than the stroma. Based on these preliminary data, it was concluded that the esterase activity varies with the tissue and that within a cell the esterases were distributed between the cytoplasm and the microsomes according to a ratio specific for a tissue.

Animals↗