The relationship between haemolytic complement of guinea-pig serum and lipase

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Abstract
Complement activities of various guinea pig sera tend to run parallel with the esterase activities of these sera, but discrepancies occur which do not support the view that the action of complement is a simple esterase function. Destruction or inacti-vation of either of the 2 relatively heat-stable components of complement does not appreciably diminish esterase activity or, as far as it is significant, lipase activity of guinea pig serum. Guinea pig serum heated at 56[degree] for 30 min. loses all detectable complement action but still retains a distinct esterase power. Protein preparations obtained by treatment of guinea pig serum with alcohol and ether at low temp., possess no complete complement power but retain a large part of the original esterase of the serum. The immune body essential for complement action has no influence on ester- ase (or lipase) activity of guinea pig serum when used in amounts sufficient to promote hemolysis of ox erythrocytes. No evidence has been obtained that esterase (or lipase) of guinea pig serum takes part in specific hemolysis. The action of hemolytic complement can not be ascribed to a hydrolysis of the fatty substances of the erythrocyte envelope by the powerful esterase or the very weak lipase of guinea pig serum.

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