STUDIES OF ESTERASES AND MULTIPLE FORMS OF CHOLINESTERASE IN EQUINE PLASMA

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Abstract
The esterases of horse and donkey plasma were separated by starch-gel electrophoresis and their characteristics determined using various substrates, inhibitors, and activators. Four zones of cholinesterase activity were present in all samples examined. One of these zones, C4, always predominated; another zone, C5, a variant form, appears to be genetically controlled. Zone B, an aliesterase hydrolyzing short- and long-chain fatty acid esters, was present in all horse plasma, but not in donkey plasma. Zone D, a type of aliesterase utilizing short-chain fatty acid esters, was found only in the draft horse breeds. Both horse and donkey plasma contained two components of zone A2, an arylesterase, one being of lesser activity. Zone A1, which had arylesterase-like activity, probably corresponds to ''albumin esterase" of human plasma.