cDNA cloning of esterase 1, the major esterase activity in mouse plasma.

We report here the cloning of a partial cDNA for Esterase 1, the major esterase activity in mouse plasma. A 470 base pair insert was isolated from a lambda gt11 cDNA library constructed from mouse liver poly A+ RNA, and identified by hybrid selected translation. We show that the sexual dimorphism displayed in the plasma levels of this protein is caused by a difference at the level of transcription. In addition, RFLP data using mouse recombinant inbred strains mapped this clone at the Es-1 locus on mouse chromosome 8.