ISOZYMES OF SERUM CHOLINESTERASE: A NEW POLYMERIZATION SEQUENCE

Abstract

The isozymes of serum cholinesterase are shown to be interconvertible. Concentration of the individual isozymes results in an electrophoretically slower functional enzyme unit, whereas dilute solutions result in functional units with greater mobility. Since each of the four most mobile isozymes when isolated is convertible to the major isozyme form and each slower isozyme when isolated can be converted into the more mobile forms, this sequence is most likely stepwise in nature. The results indicate that the isozymes of serum cholinesterase are a manifestation of a polymerization sequence.