Purification and properties of three esterases from Brevibacterium sp. R312

C. LAMBRECHTS, J. ESCUDERO AND P. GALZY. 1995. The esterases of Brevibacterium sp. R312 were found to have an intracellular location. Electrophoresis of lysed cell supernatant fluids revealed seven bands of esterase activity in the presence of α‐naphthyl acetate. Eight esterases were separated by anion exchange chromatography. The three main esterases (esterase 4b, 2 and 4a) of Brevibacterium sp. R312 were purified. The molar masses, the pH optima, the temperature optima and heat stabilities were determined. Esterase 2 differed from the two others in sensitivity to inhibitors. Esterase 4b differed from esterases 2 and 4a in its substrate specificity. This enzyme hydrolyses aliphatic and nitrophenyl esters. The spectrum of activity of the two other esterases is narrower. They hydrolysed only naphthyl esters and, in the case of esterase 2, tributyrate and ethyl butyrate.