CHARACTERISTICS OF THE ESTERASES OF HUMAN CELLS GROWN IN VITRO

Abstract

When extracts of cultured human cells are subjected to starch-gel electrophoresis, as many as 17 bands of esterase activity can be observed. In addition to their different migratory characteristics in an electric field, the various bands can be shown to differ in their substrate preferences, their stability during pronlonged storage and during heating, and their interactions with inhibitors and activators. The abundance of types of esterase in these undifferentiated cells would seem to indicate a very important role for esterase reactions in cellular function.