[Distinctive profiles of esterases from Klebsiella pneumoniae, K. oxytoca, Enterobacter aerogenes and E. gergovia].

Cellular esterases of 14 strains of Klebsiella pneumoniae, 14 strains of K. oxytoca, 16 strains of Enterobacter aerogenes and 16 strains of E. gergoviae were analysed by polyacrylamide-agarose gel and polyacrylamide gradient gel electrophoresis. Four principal esterase bands and nine minor bands, differing in their activity towards synthetic substrates and in their sensitivity to heat and to di-isofluoropropyl phosphate (DEP) were defined. The comparative distribution of bands showed that the four species analysed were characterized by distinct electrophoretic patterns of their esterases.