Abstract
A CONVENIENT source of the enzyme acetylcholinesterase occurs in the electric organ of the electric eel, and preparations of a high degree of purity have been obtained from it1. Because of the high activity of these preparations and the sensitive methods available for the estimation of enzymatic activity, appreciable dilutions of the enzyme must often be made. It has been found that dilution causes a rapid loss of enzymatic activity, and the addition of an inert protective protein such as gelatine has been recommended1. Further studies2 have revealed that low ionic strengths also produce inactivation and that protection is afforded by plasma albumen3.
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References
Rothenberg, M. A., and Nachmansohn, D., J. Biol. Chem., 168, 223 (1947).
Goldstein, A., and Doherty, M. E., Archiv Biochem. Biophys., 33, 22 (1951).
Fleisher, J. H., Spear, S., and Pope, E. J., Anal. Chem., 27, 1080 (1955).
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SCAIFE, J. Stability of Cholinesterase of the Electric Eel. Nature 183, 541–542 (1959). https://doi.org/10.1038/183541a0
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/183541a0
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