Substrate Specificity of Carboxylesterase from Vicia faba Roots

Michaelis constants values and limiting rates of the reaction catalyzed by carboxylesterase isolated from the root tips of Vicia faba were determined. 1-Naphthyl acetate, 1-naphthyl butyrate, 1-naphthyl ester of N -acetylglycine, 1-naphthyl ester of L-leucine and 1-naphthyl ester of N -acetyl-L-leucine were used as substrates. The values for the enzyme from control plants were compared with the data for carboxylesterase from plants exposed to the effect of 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid. An electrophoretic analysis of enzymes from control plants and the tested plants was carried out.