ESTERASES IN QUAIL (COTURNIX-COTURNIX) - PHYSICOCHEMICAL AND DEVELOPMENTAL ASPECTS

1. Soluble esterases of digestive system organs of various development al stages in the quail (Coturnix coturnix) were resolved by polyacryla mide gel electrophoresis into several molecular forms which were chara cterized as carboxylesterases, acetylesterases, cholinesterases and es terases sensitive to eserine. 2. The pl of the majority of esterasic a ctivity in several quail and chicken tissues was observed in the range of 5.1-5.6, while the apparent molecular weight in liver extracts was 60,000. 3. The expression of the esterase multiple molecular forms wa s found to be both tissue- and developmental stage-specific, with elec trophoretic patterns becoming more complex in number and/or staining i ntensity upon hatching and thereafter, especially in liver and intesti ne.