A CARBOXYLESTERASE FROM THE PARASITIC NEMATODE ASCARIS-SUUM HOMOLOGOUS TO THE INTESTINAL-SPECIFIC GES-1 ESTERASE OF CAENORHABDITIS-ELEGANS

We have identified a carboxylesterase in A. suum that appears to be th e homolog of the gut-specific C. elegans ges-1 enzyme. The A. suum est erase was purified and its N-terminal sequence found to be 50% identic al to the C. elegans ges-1 protein. We have used isoelectric focusing analysis to demonstrate that, unlike the C. elegans ges-1 esterase, th e A. suum enzyme is not restricted to the gut but is expressed in a wi de range of tissues.