Multiple molecular forms of soluble esterases in the digestive system of the developing chicken.

Soluble esterases in tissues of endodermic origin and of various developmental ages of Gallus gallus were analysed by polyacrylamide slab gel electrophoresis and characterized as carboxylesterases, acetylesterases and cholinesterases. Esterase bands were observed from day 9 in the liver and from day 6 in stomach, intestine and yolk sac. The electrophoretic profiles became more complex after hatching with concomitant increase in the staining intensity. On isoelectric focusing of liver extracts only a major form with pI 5.4 was observed. An eserine sensitive band designated EL-1 was found to be tissue (liver) and age (upon hatching) specific. EL-1-like isozymes were also observed in other species of the Galliformes order.