Purification and some properties of a carboxylesterase from ovine liver

Jón M. Einarsson, Kristmundur Sigmundsson, Hördur Filippusson*

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

Abstract

Carboxylesterase ESB3 was extracted from ovine liver and purified to homogeneity by ammonium sulphate fractionation, hydrophobic interaction chromatography on Phenyl Sepharose, ion exchange chromatography on Mono-Q Sepharose and size exclusion chromatography on Superose 6. The enzyme is free of carboxylesterase ESB2 activity. The molecular mass of the enzyme is estimated 182 kDa as judged by size exclusion chromatography. Isoelectric focusing indicates the presence of six isoforms of pI 5.50-5.77 with three main isoforms of pI 5.55-5.65. The enzyme is active towards the substrates p-nitrophenyl acetate and the aliphatic substrates ethyl acetate, ethylpropionate, ethyl butyrate, and ethyl valerate. Of the ethyl esters the affinity is lowest towards acetate and highest towards ethyl butyrate. The enzyme is totally inhibited by phenylmethylsulphonyl fluoride (PMSF) and mercuric chloride but not affected by eserine or cupric chloride. The pH optimum of the enzyme is 7.5 and it is stable at 55°C for 20 min.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)41-48
Number of pages8
JournalComparative Biochemistry and Physiology - B Biochemistry and Molecular Biology
Volume114
Issue number1
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 1996

Other keywords

  • carboxylesterase
  • characterization
  • isoelectric point
  • molecular weight
  • ovine liver
  • pH optimum
  • purification
  • sheep
  • substrate specificity

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