CLONING AND NUCLEOTIDE-SEQUENCE OF A NOVEL, MALE-PREDOMINANT CARBOXYLESTERASE IN MOUSE-LIVER

As a family of serine-dependent enzymes, the carboxylesterases (EC 3.1 .1.1) demonstrate a broad substrate specificity. Mouse carboxylesteras es comprise at least 20 genetically distinct loci. We cloned a full-le ngth cDNA for a novel mouse carboxylesterase, Es-male which was expres sed predominantly in,male livers. This carboxylesterase consisted of 5 54 amino acid residues, and exhibited 43% and 42% similarities to the known mouse esterases Es-22 and pEs-N, respectively. Es-male contained a C-terminal ER-retention signal PEEL, indicating that it may be a mi crosomal carboxylesterase.