Studies on a heterologous complex formed by human butyrylcholinesterase

R L R Souza1, L Furtado, A C P Diniz

  • 1Department of Genetics, Federal University of Paraná, PO Box 19071, 81531-990 Curitiba, PR, Brazil.

An electrophoretic band with butyrylcholinesterase activity was detected in 71 CHE2 C5+ and 378 CHE2 C5- individuals and was named C4/5 in view of its similar mobility to either C4 or C5, depending on the pH of the agar gel used. The present data suggest that C4/5 is a heterologous complex of butyrylcholinesterase. Although the C4/5 band may have the same mobility as C5, depending on the conditions of electrophoresis, our hypothesis is that these two bands result from the association of BChE with different molecules.

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