Cobalt-activated acylase in serum of patients with viral hepatitis.

Newly synthesized and non-toxic acyl derivatives of p-aminobenzoic acid were used as substrates indiagnostic kit for assay of cobalt-activated acylase activity. The enzyme activity, in serum of patients with viral hepatitis, depends on time, type and treatment of the disease and also on age and sex of patients. The presence of HBs antigen has no influence on it. In the patient sera 1-3 molecular forms of the enzyme were found but in the liver of healthy or sick individuals two forms were noted. Using alpha-hydroxy-isocaproyl-tyrosine covalently coupled to Sepharose 4B as a bioadsorbent; the form 2 of acylase from human liver was isolated and separated from the form 1, aminoacylase and aspartyl acylase. Specific immunoglobulins anti-form 2 does not react with other forms of the enzyme either in serum or in the liver.