SOME PROPERTIES OF AN ESTERASE DERIVED FROM PREPARATIONS OF THE FIRST COMPONENT OF COMPLEMENT

Abstract
Studies on an esterase derived from partially purified preparations of the first component of complement are described. The esterase hydrolyzed certain synthetic amino acid esters, among which N-acetyl-L-tyrosine ethyl ester was most susceptible. This was hydrolyzed maximally between pH 7.5 and 8.2, and at 41°C. The esterase could not be identified with other previously described hydrolytic enzymes. An esterase with similar properties could also be eluted from antigen-antibody aggregates which had been treated with serum.