Reactions of the sulfhydryl groups of alanyl-tRNA synthetase

The six sulfhydryl groups in each subunit of the alanyl-tRNA synthetase of Escherichia coli react with sulfhydryl reagents with at least four different rates. One reacts very rapidly with 5,5′-dithiobis-(2-nitrobenzoic acid) (DTNB), and a second reacts somewhat less rapidly with this reagent. These two groups are required for transfer activity, which is lost in proportion to the extent of derivatization. Two other groups react more slowly, with a consequent loss of exchange activity. The remaining two sulfhydryl groups do not react with DTNB until the protein is denatured. The inactivations are reversed by dithiothreitol. Two sulfhydryl groups react with N-ethylmaleimide (NEM) and with a spin-label derivative of NEM. These reactions resemble the modification of two sulfhydryl groups with DTNB, in that they also inactivate the transfer reaction but not the ATP:PP_i exchange. The two spin labels are incorporated at similar rates but are in very different environments, one highly exposed and one highly immobilized. These groups do not interact with Mn²⁺, which is bound to the enzyme in the absence of ATP.     

Selective modification of rabbit liver fructose bisphosphatase

Chemical modification of rabbit liver fructose 1,6-bisphosphatase by 5,5′-dithiobis-(2-nitrobenzoic acid) results in thiolation of four highly reactive sulfhydryl groups and a diminished sensitivity to AMP inhibition but not loss of enzyme activity. Ethoxyformylation of the histidine groups of fructose 1,6-bisphosphatase does not result in a sharp loss of activity until at least 4 or 5 of the 13 residues have reacted. Exhaustive formylation does abolish the enzyme's activity. These four most reactive sulfhydryl groups and the one or two least easily modified histidine moieties (those responsible for activity) can be protected against modification by fructose-1,6-P₂ and to a lesser extent by fructose-6-P. The binding of fructose-1,6-P₂ to fructose 1,6-bisphosphatase, however, depends on the presence of structural metal ion since EDTA which removes all endogenous Zn²⁺ from the protein prevents binding of fructose-1, 6-P₂ to the enzyme.     

Alterations of fast-reacting sulfhydryl groups of rat brain microsomes by ethanol.

Brain microsomes isolated from rats chronically imbibing 10% ethanol contained 12–16% more 5,5′-dithiobis-(2-nitrobenzoic acid) (DTNB) fast-reacting sulfhydryl (SH) groups than microsomes from control animals. (³H)N-ethylmaleimide was also shown to react with more SH groups in the microsomes of ethanol imbibing rats than the controls. No changes were found in the total SH groups or in the disc gel electrophoresis protein banding profiles between the two fractions. However, the acute exposure of microsomes from ethanol-naive animals to ethanol resulted in a dose-dependent decrease in DTNB-reactive SH groups. These findings were interpreted as arising from time-dependdent conformational changes in the membrane due to the presence of ethanol or compensatory response to such changes.     

Chemical modification of sulfhydryl residues of rabbit triosephosphate isomerase

Rabbit muscle triosephosphate isomerase (EC 5.3.1.1) is inactivated by maleimides, Na₂S₄O₆, organic mercurials, 5,5′-dithiobis (2-nitrobenzoic acid), Ag⁺, and Hg²⁺. Ag²⁺ and Hg²⁺ cause a decrease in the maximum velocity, and under specified conditions the other reagents induce an increase in the Michaelis constant.N-ethylmaleimide reacts with three sulfhydryl residues per mole of enzyme, and the maximum change in K_m is about threefold. Mercurials cause a greater change in K_m and react with more than three sulfhydryl groups, but subsequent precipitation prevents quantitative analysis after six residues have reacted (with p-hydroxymercuribenzoate).Experiments with several competitive inhibitors and the active-site affinity label, 3-chloroacetolphosphate, showed that the magnitude of the change in Michaelis constant was the same as the magnitude of the changes in the inhibition constants.The rabbit muscle and liver enzyme appear to have similar properties, but the chicken muscle enzyme is much less reactive, and the yeast enzyme does not become inactivated.Evidence is presented to show that the effects cannot be explained by assuming the hydrated substrates are bound to the enzyme as a result of sulfhydryl modification.     

Some changes in the reactivity of enzymes resulting from their chemical attachment to water-insoluble derivatives of cellulose

1. Purified ficin was chemically attached to CM-cellulose, and partially purified ATP–creatine phosphotransferase was chemically attached to both CM-cellulose and p-aminobenzylcellulose. 2. The apparent K_m with respect to ATP and Mg²⁺ of ATP–creatine phosphotransferase was observed to increase about tenfold on attachment of the enzyme to CM-cellulose, and to increase by only 23% on its attachment to p-aminobenzylcellulose. 3. The reactivity of both ficin and ATP–creatine phosphotransferase with 5,5′-dithiobis-(2-nitrobenzoic acid) was observed to decrease on chemical attachment of these enzymes to water-insoluble derivatives of cellulose. With derivatives prepared from CM-cellulose, the extent of the reaction with 5,5′-dithiobis-(2-nitrobenzoic acid) was dependent on ionic strength, but with similar derivatives prepared from p-aminobenzylcellulose the extent of this reaction was independent of ionic strength. 4. The effect of diffusion and electrostatic interaction of charged enzyme substrates and charged enzyme supports on the apparent K_m of a water-insoluble derivative of an enzyme is discussed. An equation is derived that satisfactorily describes the observed effects of these factors on the apparent K_m.     

A study of the sulfhydryl groups of rat brain hexokinase

Rat brain hexokinase (ATP: d-hexose-6-phosphotransferase, EC 2.7.1.1) is rapidly inactivated by reaction with 5,5′-dithiobis-(2-nitrobenzoate). The inactivation follows monophasic first-order kinetics in either the absence of ligands (k = 0.641 min^?1 at 25 °C) or in the presence of saturating levels of ATP (free or complexed with Mg²⁺) or P₁; the inactivation rate is slightly increased ($\text{k ? 0.7}$ min ^?1) in the presence of ATP or P₁. In contrast, glucose and glucose-6-P markedly decrease the inactivation rate; inactivation in the presence of these ligands is biphasic, with two first-order rates ($\text{k ? 0.5}$ min^?1 and 0.01 min^?1) being distinguishable.The enzyme contains 14 sulfhydryl groups which react with 5,5′-dithiobis-(2-nitrobenzoate); reaction of these groups in the native enzyme is complete after 2 hr at 25 °C, or in approx 5 min with the urea or guanidine-denatured enzyme. In the native enzyme, three classes of sulfhydryl groups are distinguishable and are designated as F-, I-, or S-type based on their fast (k ? 0.7 min^?1), intermediate ($\text{k ? 0.5-0.7}$ min^?1), or slow ($\text{k ? 0.02}$ min^?1 rates of reaction with 5,5′-dithiobis-(2-nitrobenzoate). The correlation of inactivation rates with the rates for reaction of the I-type sulfhydryls indicates that the I-type sulfhydryls include residues necessary for catalytic activity. The F-type residues are clearly not required for activity.The effects of ATP, P₁, glucose, and glucose-6-P on the reactivity of the sulfhydryls have been determined. As in the absence of ligands, S-, I-, and F-type sulfhydryls could be distinguished. In the presence of saturating concentrations of these ligands, the F, I, and S classes of sulfhydryls contained respectively: with ATP, 1, 4, and 7 residues; with P₁, 1, 3, and 7 residues; with glucose, 1, 2, and 5 residues; with glucose-6-P, 1, 2, and 1 residues. Comparison with rate constants for inactivation in the presence of these ligands again indicated that I-type sulfhydryls were particularly important in maintenance of enzyme activity. The present results indicate considerable similarity between the reactivity of the sulfhydryl residues in rat brain hexokinase and the sulfhydryls of the bovine brain enzyme [V. D. Redkar and U. W. Kenkare (1972), J. Biol. Chem., 247, 7576–7584].     

Biochemical aspects of the visual process. XXIII. Sulfhydryl groups and rhodopsin photolysis

1. The number of exposed sulfhydryl groups in cattle rod photoreceptor membranes has been determined in suspension and after solubilization in various detergents both before and after illumination.2. In suspensions, two sulfhydryl groups are modified per mole of rhodopsin, both by Ellman's reagent 5,5′-dithiobis-(2-nitrobenzoic acid) (DTNB) and N-ethylmaleimide, while no extra SH groups are uncovered upon illumination. Neither reagent affects the spectral integrity of rhodopsin at 500 nm and the recombination capacity is retained upon modification of both rhodopsin and opsin.3. However, in detergents (digitonin, Triton X-100 and cetyltrimethylammonium bromide (CTAB)) 2–3 additional sulfhydryl groups appear upon illumination, in agreement with earlier reports.4. A total number of six sulfhydryl groups and two disulfide bridges are found in rod photoreceptor membranes, expressed per mole of rhodopsin.5. DTNB reacts somewhat faster with membrane suspensions after than before illumination. The less reactive sulfhydryl modifying agents O-methylisourea and methyl-p-nitrobenzene sulfonate show a similar behavior.6. It is concluded that illumination of rhodopsin in vivo will not uncover additional SH groups, although the reactivity of one exposed SH group may increase somewhat. These findings also exclude a role of SH groups in the covalent binding of the chromophore.     

The effect of sulfhydryl group reagents on the permeation of mitochondrial aspartate aminotransferase into mitochondria in vitro.

When mitochondria are incubated with radioactively labeled mitochondrial aspartate aminotransferase (EC 2.6.1.1), the enzyme is taken up into the organelles. Mersalyl and p-hydroxymercuriphenyl sulfonic acid, but not N-ethylmaleimide or ethacrynic acid, decrease the extent of this uptake. Inhibition of the uptake by low concentrations of mercurial reagents is due to blockage of a single sulfhydryl group per monomer of the enzyme. Blockage of mitochondrial thiols does not inhibit uptake of the enzyme. A single sulfhydryl group out of a total of six per monomer of the native enzyme reacts with 5,5′-dithiobis-(2-nitrobenzoic acid). This is the same sulfhydryl group that reacts with low levels of mercurial reagents with consequent inhibition of uptake of the enzyme into mitochondria but without effect on the catalytic activity. N-Ethylmaleimide does not react with this group. N-Ethylmaleimide reacts with a different sulfhydryl group with concomitant decrease in enzymic activity but with no effect on uptake of the enzyme into mitochondria. High levels of mercurial reagents similarly decrease enzymic activity. Unlike the effect on uptake into mitochondria, the inhibition by mercurial reagents of enzymic activity is not reversed by treatment with cysteine. The significance of these observations with respect to the mechanism of uptake of aspartate aminotransferase into mitochondria is discussed, and comparisons are made between the reactivities of sulfhydryl groups in rat liver aspartate aminotransferase and in the enzymes from other animals.     

A colorimetric micro-method for the determination of glutathione

1. A rapid colorimetric and apparently specific micromethod for the determination of total glutathione in small amounts of tissue is described. Generally, less than 30mg. of tissue is sufficient and this is homogenized in ice-cold 3% metaphosphoric acid. The product is filtered through sintered glass and neutralized or diluted before being added to a cuvette containing phosphate buffer, pH7·1, 5,5′-dithiobis-(2-nitrobenzoic acid), EDTA and glutathione reductase. Addition of NADPH₂ to the system initiates a progressive reduction of 5,5′-dithiobis-(2-nitrobenzoic acid) by catalytic amounts of GSH, and this causes a colour increase at 412mμ. The rate of this change, calculated over 5min., is proportional to the total amount of glutathione present, and consequently unknown concentrations may be determined by reference to standards. 2. A preparation (based on that of Racker, 1955) of a suitable sample of glutathione reductase from yeast is described. 3. A less specific and less sensitive determination of extracted thiol groups with 5,5′-dithiobis-(2-nitrobenzoic acid) at pH8·0, based on observations of Ellman (1959) and Jocelyn (1962), is also described. 4. Although the precise nature of the reaction is not known, evidence is put forward to support a process of cyclo-reduction. GSSG is reduced enzymically to GSH, which reacts with 5,5′-dithiobis-(2-nitrobenzoic acid) to produce a coloured ion: [Formula: see text] (E_max. 412mμ) and a mixed disulphide. This disulphide reacts with further quantities of GSH to liberate another ion and GSSG, which then re-enters the cycle.     

Essential sulfhydryl group of malic enzyme fromEscherichia coli

The activity of malic enzyme fromEscherichia coli was unaffected by the monovalent cations Na⁺ or Li⁺ at 10 mM. At 100 mM, Li⁺ or Na⁺ inhibited the enzyme activity by 88% and 83%, respectively. However, the enzyme activity was stimulated by 40–80-fold with 10 mM K⁺, Rb⁺, Cs⁺, or NH ₄ ⁺ . Less stimulation was observed with 100 mM of these stimulating cations. The stimulatory effect was lost after the enzyme was dialyzed against Tris-Cl buffer, but was regained after incubating the dialyzed enzyme with dithiothreitol. The regenerated enzyme was inactivated by 5,5′-dithiobis(2-nitrobenzoic acid). The resulting inactive thionitrobenzoyl enzyme could be regenerated to the active thiol-enzyme by eithiothreitol or converted to the inactive thiocyanoylated enzyme by KCN. The thiocyanoylated enzyme was insensitive to K⁺ stimulation, which suggested the essentiality of the sulfhydryl groups of theE. coli malic enzyme.     

Microsomal sn-glycerol 3-phosphate and dihydroxyacetone phosphate acyltransferase activities from liver and other tissues. Evidence for a single enzyme catalizing both reactions.

Liver microsomal cytochrome P-448 purified from 3-methylcholanthrene-treated rats or rabbits contained seven free sulfhydryl groups per mole of enzyme as determined by amino acid analysis or by spectrophotometric titrations with 5,5′-dithiobis(2-nitroben-zoic acid), 4,4′-dipyridinedisulfide, 2-nitro-5-thiocyanobenzoic acid, and p-mercuribenzoate. The rat cytochrome P-448-catalyzed hydroxylation of benzo[a]pyrene was inhibited 70% after modification of the enzyme with 5,5′-dithiobis(2-nitrobenzoic acid) but was unaffected after titration of the enzyme with other sulfhydryl reagents, suggesting that the sulfhydryl groups may not be essential for catalysis. On the other hand, the rabbit cytochrome P-448-catalyzed hydroxylation of benzo[a]pyrene was inhibited following the modification of this enzyme with all of the sulfhydryl reagents listed above. Whether the loss in catalytic activity in this case is due to the essential role of the sulfhydryl groups in catalysis or to the steric hindrance or conformational change due to the substituent is uncertain.     

The pancreatic β-cell recognition of insulin secretagogues XIII effects of sulphydryl reagents on cyclic AMP

Chloromercuribenzene-p-sulphonic acid (0.1 mM) or 5,5′-dithiobis-(2-nitrobenzoic acid) (1 mM) alone had no effect on cyclic AMP in microdissected pancreatic islets of non-inbred ob/ob mice. In the presence of 1 mM 3-isobutyl-1-methylxanthine, the mercurial increased and the disulphide decreased the cyclic AMP content. Both sulphydryl reagents stimulated insulin release whether 3-isobutyl-1-methylxanthine was present or not. The effects of chloromercuribenzene-p-sulphonic acid on insulin release and cyclic AMP were markedly inhibited by 1 mM 4-acetamido-4′-isothiocyanostilbene-2,2′-disulphonic acid. In the absence of phosphodiesterase inhibitor, iodoacetamide (0.1 mM) potentiated insulin release in response to 20 mM glucose but had no demonstrable effect on cyclic AMP. In the presence of 20 mM glucose plus 1 mM 3-isobutyl-1-methylxanthine, however, iodoacetamide increased the cyclic AMP content although insulin release was not further enhanced. It is suggested that chloromercuribenzene-p-sulphonic acid and iodoacetamide may stimulate the formation of cyclic AMP in pancreatic islets. This effect could contribute to the insulin-releasing action of these stimuli, although promotion of cyclic AMP is probably not the sole mechanism by which sulphydryl reagents stimulate secretion.     

Adenylate cyclase from guinea pig lung: further characterization and inhibitory effects of substrate analogs and cyclic nucleotides

A potent (K_i = 0.01 mM), competitive inhibition of adenylate cyclase activity in particulate fractions of guinea pig lung by 2′O-palmitoyl cyclic AMP has been observed, in striking contrast to the inactivity of cyclic AMP and N⁶,2′O-dibutyryl cyclic AMP at concentrations of up to 1 mm or more. The possibility that 2′O-palmitoyl cyclic AMP or similar compounds might function as endogenous regulators of the hormonal stimulation of adenylate cyclase activity is discussed. Several 6- and 8- substituted purine 3′,5′-cyclic ribotides also inhibit, probably by direct interaction with enzymatic sulfhydryl groups. A study of the inhibition by purine bases, nucleosides, and 5′ nucleotides suggests that most of the substrate (ATP) binding determinants reside in the nucleoside. The particulate enzyme fractions were found to have lower ATPase activity relative to cyclase activity than cyclase preparations from either guinea pig heart or bronchial smooth muscle. Lung cyclase fractions were maximally stimulated by 5–15 mm Mg²⁺ in the presence of 1.2 mm ATP as substrate. The percentage of stimulation of cyclase activity by 0.01 mm isoproterenol is dependent on the Mg²⁺ concentration. Cyclase activity was significantly stimulated not only by the catecholamines (isoproterenol, epinephrine, and norepinephrine) and fluoride ion, but also by prostaglandins E₁, E₂, and F_2α, histamine, and glucagon.     

Inhibition of lectin-induced lymphocyte activation by diamide and other sulfhydryl reagents

Inhibition of lectin-induced lymphocyte activation by five reagents capable of combining with or oxidizing free sulfhydryl groups was examined. Each of the reagents tested was capable of inhibiting [methyl-³H]thymidine or [¹⁴C]uridine incorporation into trichloroacetic acid-insoluble material. Four of these reagents, iodoacetamide and N-ethylmaleimide (alkylating agents) and 5,5′-dithiobis (2-nitrobenzoic acid) and p-hydroxymercuriphenylsulfonic acid (sulfhydryl binding agents), inhibited activation when added to lymphocyte cultures together with lectin or at any time thereafter through 48 hr. In contrast, the sulfhydryl oxidizing agent diazine dicarboxylic acid bis[N,N-dimethylamide] (diamide) was effective only when added within 30–60 min of lectin or when added after 24 hr. This inhibition of lymphocyte activation was not due to decreased intracellular levels of reduced glutathione or to inhibition of binding of lectin to the lymphocyte. These results suggest that maintenance of free sulfhydryl groups is important during the early induction of lymphocyte activation and suggest that an obligatory step or steps in the activation sequence may involve sulfhydryl interactions.     

Characterization of a new sulfhydryl group reagent: 6,6′-Diselenobis-(3-Nitrobenzoic acid), a selenium analog of Ellman's reagent

A new reagent, 6,6′-diselenobis-(3-nitrobenzoic acid) (DSNB) has been synthesized and is shown to be useful for quantitative estimation of sulfhydryl groups in proteins. This reagent, which is a selenium analog of Ellman's reagent, reacts specifically and quantitatively with thiol groups of proteins to yield a selenenyl sulfide and the dianion of 3-nitro-6-selenobenzoic acid. The molar absorption coefficient of the chromophoric dianion is 10,000 at 432 nm in dilute aqueous solutions. The titration can best be performed at pH 8.20 where >98% of 3-nitro-6-selenobenzoic acid is in the form of the intensely colored dianion. Sulfhydryl content determinations by this reagent of reduced and denatured ribonuclease, reduced and denatured lysozyme, native papain, and native and denatured thymidylate synthetase are compared with those from corresponding 5,5′-dithiobis-(2-nitrobenzoic acid) (DTNB) titrations. The reagent was found to inactivate thymidylate synthetase, an enzyme with essential sulfhydryl groups. Unlike DTNB which undergoes alkaline decomposition of pH values greater than 9, DSNB was found to be stable to hydrolysis, even in 0.05 m NaOH.     

The mechanism of conversion of rat liver xanthine dehydrogenase from an NAD+-dependent form (type D) to an O2-dependent form (type O).

Rat liver xanthine dehydrogenase, type D, has been isolated directly from crude extracts as an antibody complex and its properties compared with those of two oxidase forms of the enzyme, heat-treated type O and trypsin-treated type O, also isolated as antibody complexes. The type D antibody complex displays electron acceptor specificities and electron paramagnetic resonance properties characteristic of an NAD⁺-dependent dehydrogenase whereas the trypsin-treated type O complex behaves as an O₂-utilizing oxidase. The heat-treated type O complex displays intermediate behavior. After electrophoresis in dodecyl sulfate-urea-acrylamide gels, type D and heated type O enzymes show single polypeptide bands, each of approximately 150,000 molecular weight. The trypsinized type O also shows one major band but with an approximate molecular weight of 130,000. Purified type D enzyme, when proteolytically treated, is converted to an oxidase with increased mobility on polyacrylamide gels. The 150,000 molecular weight subunit is cleaved into smaller subunits during proteolysis. Treatment with 5,5′-dithiobis-(2-nitrobenzoic acid) converts the type D enzyme, whether isolated as the purified enzyme or as the immune precipitate, to type O enzyme in a time-dependent manner. Titration of type D and the two type O antibody complexes with 5,5′-dithiobis-(2-nitrobenzoic acid) reveals that type D and heated type O each has approximately 28 reactive sulfhydryls, whereas the trypsinized type O has only 8 such groups. Many of the free sulfhydryls are vicinal and form disulfide bonds during the conversion to an oxidase by this reagent. Unproteolyzed preparations of type O rat liver enzyme and milk xanthine oxidase are converted to type D enzymes by treatment with dithiothreitol. The converted enzymes display electron acceptor specificities and epr properties characteristic of an NAD⁺-dependent dehydrogenase molecule.     

An active site-directed, irreversible inactivation of yeast hexokinase by (R,S)2,3-epoxypropyl beta-D-glucopyranoside

(1) Only (R,S)2′,3′-epoxypropyl β-d-glucopyranoside of the complete series of mono (R,S)2′.3′-epoxypropyl ethers and glycosides of d-glucopyranose significantly inactivated yeast hexokinase.(2) (R,S)2′,3′-Epoxypropyl β-d-glucopyranoside inactivates yeast hexokinase in the absence of MgATP^2?, The rate of inactivation is unaffected by MgATP^2?.(3) The rate of inactivation of hexokinase with (R,S)2′,3′-epoxypropyl β-d-ilucopyranoside was much greater when hexokinase was present in a monomeric form than when it was present in a dimeric form.(4) (R,S)2′,3′-Epoxypropyl β-d-glucopyranoside has a high K_t (0.38 M) and at a saturating concentrarion, the first order rate constant for the inactivation of monomeric hexokinase is 8.3 · 10^?4 sec.(5) d-Glucose protects against this inactivation and this was used to derive a dissocistion constant of 0.21 mM for d-glucose in the absence of MgATP^2?.(6) The alkylation of yeast hexokinase by (R,S)2′,3′-epoxypropyl β-d-gluco-pyranoside was not specific to the active site. When the concentration of (R,S)2′,3′-epoxypropyl β-d-glucopyranoside was 50 mM two thiol groups outside the active site were also alkylated.(7) The reaction between 5,5′-dithiobis-(2-nitrobenzoic acid) (DTNB) and yeast hexokinase was examined in detail. Two thiol groups per monomer (mol. wt. 50000) reacted with a second order rate constant of 27 1 mole^?1 sec^?1. A third thiol group reacted more slowly with a second-order rate constant of 1.6 1 mole^?1 sec^?1 and a fourth thiol group reacted very slowly with inactivation of the enzyme. Tue second-order rate constant in this case was 0.1 1 mole^?1 sec^?1.     

Chymotryptic heavy meromyosin from gizzard myosin: a proteolytic fragment with the regulatory properties of the intact myosin.

Arginine deiminase (EC 3.5.3.6) from $\text{Mycoplasma}\text{arthritidis}$ is a dimeric enzyme. Velocity centrifugation in 6 M guanidine HCl and peptide mapping of the BrCN fragments suggest that the subunits are identical. The reaction of one out of four sulfhydryl groups with 0.3 mM 5,5′-dithiobis-(2-nitrobenzoic acid) has a half-life of about 30 min in 2 M guanidine HCl at 15°, pH 8. The enzyme is irreversibly inhibited by 1 mM formamidinium ion within 1 min. Inactivation by this affinity label is resolvable into two concurrent first-order reactions in the presence of guanidinium ion; the fraction of enzyme which reacts at the faster rate is about 50%. These results are interpreted as evidence for two catalytic subunits which differ in conformation.     

Purification and properties of esterase from Bacillus stearothermophilus

An enzyme, which hydrolyzes p-nitrophenyl and m-carboxyphenyl esters of n-fatty acids, is purified from Bacillus stearothermophilus. The enzyme reaction obeys the Michaelis-Menten theory. The Michaelis constant (K_m) decreases with increasing the length of carbon number of the acids, but the maximum velocity (V) is maximum for n-caproate. The enzyme is inhibited by diisopropyl fluorophosphate (DFP),² and 1 mole of DFP reacts with 1 mole of the enzyme of the molecular weight of 42,000–47,000. The enzyme is considered to be carboxylic ester hydrolase (EC 3.1.1.1). The effects of temperature on K_m or V for p-nitrophenyl n-caproate and on the inhibitor constant (K_i) for n-laurate suggest a thermal transition in the conformation of the enzyme protein at 55 °C. The enzyme is strongly inhibited by sulfhydryl reagents such as p-chloromercuribenzoate and 5,5′-dithiobis (2-nitrobenzoic acid) at 65 °C, but less at 30 °C. The relationship between the inhibition of the activity by p-chloromercuribenzoate and temperature may suggest that a thermal transition of the enzyme protein accompanies some structural change around sulfhydryl group.