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Esterase

XVIII. Biochemical and histochemical investigations of the subcellular location of the non specific esterase

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Summary

It is well known that the non specific esterase occurs, during cell particle fractionation, up to 80% and more bound to particles, whereas 70–80% of the same esterase goes out of cryostate sections into aqueous solution. This holds for liver as well as for kidney. In the present investigation it is endeavored to solve these contradictory findings. The specific esterase activity of microsomes I, which are prepared from liver in the conventional way, is 10 times higher than that of the homogenate. Opposed to this, the specific activity of microsomes II, prepared from liver cryostate sections, is only 40% of that in microsomes I. It seems that esterase which does not originate from the microsomal precursors becomes irreversibly attached to microsomes during tissue homogenisation. During this procedure, the diffusion of esterase into the medium competes with the process of enzyme attachment, both phenomena occurring within seconds. Electron microscopical enzyme demonstration reveals that the esterase changes its location if cells are mechanically injured. Thus the predominately microsomal location of esterase must be regarded as an artificial finding.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Pathology (Ludwig Aschoff-Haus), University of Freiburg i.Br., Germany

    Alfred Böcking, Claudia Großarth & Otto von Deimling

  2. Pathologisches Institut, Albertstraße 19, D-7800, Freiburg i.Br., Germany

    Alfred Böcking

Authors
  1. Alfred Böcking
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  2. Claudia Großarth
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  3. Otto von Deimling
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Additional information

This investigation was supported by the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft.

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Böcking, A., Großarth, C. & von Deimling, O. Esterase. Histochemistry 42, 359–375 (1974). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00492684

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00492684

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