Bile-salt-stimulated lipase in human milk: evidence for its synthesis in the lactating mammary gland

Impact of pasteurization on the self-assembly of human milk lipids during digestion

Human milk is critical for the survival and development of infants. This source of nutrition contains components that protect against infections while stimulating immune maturation. In cases where the mother's own milk is unavailable, pasteurized donor milk is the preferred option. Although pasteurization has been shown to have minimal impact on the lipid and FA composition before digestion, no correlation has been made between the impact of pasteurization on the FFA composition and the self-assembly of lipids during digestion, which could act as delivery mechanisms for poorly water-soluble components. Pooled nonpasteurized and pasteurized human milk from a single donor was used in this study. The evolving FFA composition during digestion was determined using GC coupled to a flame ionization detector. In vitro digestion coupled to small-angle X-ray scattering was utilized to investigate the influence of different calcium levels, fat content, and the presence of bile salts on the extent of digestion and structural behavior of human milk lipids. Almost complete digestion was achieved when bile salts were added to the systems containing high calcium to milk fat ratio, with similar structural behavior of lipids during digestion of both types of human milk being apparent. In contrast, differences in the colloidal structures were formed during digestion in the absence of bile salt because of a greater amount of FFAs being released from the nonpasteurized than pasteurized milks. This difference in FFAs released from both types of human milk could result in varying nutritional implications for infants.

Maturity-Onset Diabetes of the Young (MODY): Genetic Causes, Clinical Characteristics, Considerations for Testing, and Treatment Options

Maturity Onset Diabetes of the Young (MODY) encompasses a group of rare monogenic forms of diabetes distinct in etiology and clinical presentation from the more common forms of Type 1 (autoimmune) and Type 2 diabetes. Since its initial description as a clinical entity nearly 50 years ago, the underlying genetic basis for the various forms of MODY has been increasingly better elucidated. Clinically, the diagnosis may be made in childhood or young adulthood and can present as overt hyperglycemia requiring insulin therapy or as a subtle form of slowly progressive glucose impairment. Due to the heterogeneity of clinical symptoms, patients with MODY may be misdiagnosed as possessing another form of diabetes, resulting in potentially inappropriate treatment and delays in screening of affected family members and associated comorbidities. In this review, we highlight the various known genetic mutations associated with MODY, clinical presentation, indications for testing, and the treatment options available.

Isolated Amylase Deficiency in Children and Its Clinical Implication

OBJECTIVES

Among the 3 lines of pancreatic enzymes, amylase secretion develops last and it is not detected in duodenal aspirates of infants in the first month after birth. The aim of this study was to assess the prevalence and symptoms of isolated amylase deficiency in children.

METHODS

During a 6-year period, we performed endoscopic pancreatic function tests (ePFT) in 712 children. Isolated amylase deficiency was defined as activity that was below the third percentile of our referenced population with normal lipase and protease activities.

RESULTS

Seventy-two children between age 0.21 and 15.7 years (boys, n = 35) had isolated amylase deficiency. The highest prevalence of isolated amylase deficiency was found in patients less than 6 months of age (52.9%). From 6 months to 1 year of age, the prevalence was 40%. The prevalence gradually decreased until 18 months. Failure to thrive, poor weight gain, diarrhea, and abdominal bloating were the most frequent indications for ePFT. Eleven children had repeat ePFT after initial diagnosis and 6 had normal enzyme activity, whereas 5 had remained amylase-deficient an average of 1.65 years later.

CONCLUSIONS

The prevalence of selective amylase deficiency was 10.1% in the 712 children who underwent ePFT with the suspicion of malabsorption. Low amylase activity is "physiologic" in infants <6 months of age, however, this study supports that it should be considered in the differential diagnosis in children older than 6 months of age.

Bile salt dependent lipase promotes intestinal adaptation in rats with massive small bowel resection

Intestinal adaptation is important for the short bowel syndrome (SBS) patients. Growing evidence has suggested that bile salt dependent lipase (BSDL) not only has the lipolytic activity, but also the immune-modulating and pro-proliferative activities. The purpose of the present study was to investigate the effects of BSDL on intestinal adaptive growth and gut barrier function in a rat model of SBS. Twenty-four male Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into three experimental groups: sham group (rats underwent bowel transection and re-anastomosis), SBS group (rats underwent 80% bowel resection), SBS-BSDL group (SBS rats orally administered BSDL). The animals were weighed daily. The intestinal morpho-histochemical changes and intestinal barrier function were determined 14 days after the operations. Meanwhile, the expressions of Wnt signaling molecules in enterocytes were also analyzed by immunohistochemistry and Western blot. The postoperative weight gain was faster in the SBS rats treated with BSDL than in the SBS/untreated group. The SBS rats treated with BSDL had significantly greater villus height, crypt depth, and enterocyte proliferation in their residual intestines, as compared with the SBS/untreated group. The recovery of intestinal barrier function was promoted and the expressions of tight-junction proteins were increased in the SBS rats treated with BSDL. Additionally, the data indicated that the proadaptive activities of BSDL might be mediated by Wnt signaling activation in the enterocytes. These observations suggested that enteral BSDL administration promoted intestinal adaptive growth and barrier repairing by activating Wnt signaling pathway in SBS rats.

Lack of association between the pancreatitis risk allele CEL-HYB and pancreatic cancer

CEL-HYB is a hybrid allele that arose from a crossover between the 3’ end of the Carboxyl ester lipase (CEL) gene and the nearby CEL pseudogene (CELP) and was recently identified as a risk factor for chronic pancreatitis. Since chronic pancreatitis is a risk factor for the development of pancreatic cancer, we compared the prevalence of the CEL-HYB allele in patients with pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma to spousal controls and disease controls. The CEL-HYB allele was detected using Sanger and next generation sequencing. There was no significant difference in the prevalence of the CEL-HYB allele between cases with pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma compared to controls; 2.6% (22/850) vs. 1.8% (18/976) (p=0.35). CEL-HYB carriers were not more likely to report a history of pancreatitis. Patients with pancreatic cancer are not more likely than controls to be carriers of the CEL-HYB allele.

Copy number variants and VNTR length polymorphisms of the carboxyl-ester lipase (CEL) gene as risk factors in pancreatic cancer

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES

We have recently described copy number variants (CNVs) of the human carboxyl-ester lipase (CEL) gene, including a recombined deletion allele (CEL-HYB) that is a genetic risk factor for chronic pancreatitis. Associations with pancreatic disease have also been reported for the variable number of tandem repeat (VNTR) region located in CEL exon 11. Here, we examined if CEL CNVs and VNTR length polymorphisms affect the risk for developing pancreatic cancer.

METHODS

CEL CNVs and VNTR were genotyped in a German family with non-alcoholic chronic pancreatitis and pancreatic cancer, in 265 German and 197 Norwegian patients diagnosed with pancreatic adenocarcinoma, and in 882 controls. CNV screening was performed using PCR assays followed by agarose gel electrophoresis whereas VNTR lengths were determined by DNA fragment analysis.

RESULTS

The investigated family was CEL-HYB-positive. However, an association of CEL-HYB or a duplication CEL allele with pancreatic cancer was not seen in our two patient cohorts. The frequency of the 23-repeat VNTR allele was borderline significant in Norwegian cases compared to controls (1.2% vs. 0.3%; P = 0.05). For all other VNTR lengths, no statistically significant difference in frequency was observed. Moreover, no association with pancreatic cancer was detected when CEL VNTR lengths were pooled into groups of short, normal or long alleles.

CONCLUSIONS

We could not demonstrate an association between CEL CNVs and pancreatic cancer. An association is also unlikely for CEL VNTR lengths, although analyses in larger materials are necessary to completely exclude an effect of rare VNTR alleles.

Self-assembly structure formation during the digestion of human breast milk

An infant's complete diet, human breast milk, is the basis for its survival and development. It contains water-soluble and poorly water-soluble bioactive components, metabolic messages, and energy, all of which are made bioavailable during the digestion process in the infant's gastrointestinal tract. Reported is the first discovery of highly geometrically organized structures formed during the digestion of human breast milk under simulated in vivo conditions using small-angle X-ray scattering and cryogenic transmission electron microscopy. Time of digestion, pH, and bile salt concentration were found to have symbiotic effects gradually tuning the oil-based environment inside the breast milk globules to more water-like structures with high internal surface area. The structure formation is necessarily linked to its function as carriers for poorly water-soluble molecules in the digestive tract of the infant.

Endocytosis of secreted carboxyl ester lipase in a syndrome of diabetes and pancreatic exocrine dysfunction

Maturity-onset diabetes of the young, type 8 (MODY8) is characterized by a syndrome of autosomal dominantly inherited diabetes and exocrine pancreatic dysfunction. It is caused by deletion mutations in the last exon of the carboxyl ester lipase (CEL) gene, resulting in a CEL protein with increased tendency to aggregate. In this study we investigated the intracellular distribution of the wild type (WT) and mutant (MUT) CEL proteins in cellular models. We found that both CEL-WT and CEL-MUT were secreted via the endoplasmic reticulum and Golgi compartments. However, their subcellular distributions differed, as only CEL-MUT was observed as an aggregate at the cell surface and inside large cytoplasmic vacuoles. Many of the vacuoles were identified as components of the endosomal system, and after its secretion, the mutant CEL protein was re-internalized, transported to the lysosomes, and degraded. Internalization of CEL-MUT also led to reduced viability of pancreatic acinar and beta cells. These findings may have implications for the understanding of how the acinar-specific CEL-MUT protein causes both exocrine and endocrine pancreatic disease.

Human milk glycoproteins protect infants against human pathogens

Breastfeeding protects the neonate against pathogen infection. Major mechanisms of protection include human milk glycoconjugates functioning as soluble receptor mimetics that inhibit pathogen binding to the mucosal cell surface, prebiotic stimulation of gut colonization by favorable microbiota, immunomodulation, and as a substrate for bacterial fermentation products in the gut. Human milk proteins are predominantly glycosylated, and some biological functions of these human milk glycoproteins (HMGPs) have been reported. HMGPs range in size from 14 kDa to 2,000 kDa and include mucins, secretory immunoglobulin A, bile salt-stimulated lipase, lactoferrin, butyrophilin, lactadherin, leptin, and adiponectin. This review summarizes known biological roles of HMGPs that may contribute to the ability of human milk to protect neonates from disease.

Human milk oligosaccharide concentration and risk of postnatal transmission of HIV through breastfeeding

BACKGROUND

The inefficiency of HIV breast-milk transmission may be caused by the presence of immunologically active factors, including human milk oligosaccharides (HMOs).

OBJECTIVE

We investigated whether HMO concentrations are associated with a reduced risk of postnatal HIV transmission.

DESIGN

A nested case-control study was conducted within a larger cohort study of HIV-infected women and their infants followed from birth to 24 mo in Lusaka, Zambia. Breast-milk samples collected at 1 mo from 81 HIV-infected women who transmitted via breastfeeding, a random sample of 86 HIV-infected women who did not transmit despite breastfeeding, and 36 uninfected breastfeeding women were selected. Total and specific HMO concentrations were measured by HPLC and compared between groups with adjustment for confounders by using logistic regression.

RESULTS

HIV-infected women with total HMOs above the median (1.87 g/L) were less likely to transmit via breastfeeding (OR: 0.45; 95% CI: 0.21, 0.97; P = 0.04) after adjustment for CD4 count and breast-milk HIV RNA concentrations; a trend toward higher concentrations of lacto-N-neotetraose being associated with reduced transmission (OR: 0.49; 95% CI: 0.23, 1.04; P = 0.06) was also observed. The proportion of 3'-sialyllactose (3'-SL) per total HMOs was higher among transmitting than among nontransmitting women (P = 0.003) and correlated with higher plasma and breast-milk HIV RNA and lower CD4 counts. Neither Secretor nor Lewis status distinguished between transmitting and nontransmitting women.

CONCLUSIONS

Higher concentrations of non-3'-SL HMOs were associated with protection against postnatal HIV transmission independent of other known risk factors. Further study of these novel, potentially anti-HIV components of breast milk is warranted.

Understanding the lipid-digestion processes in the GI tract before designing lipid-based drug-delivery systems

Many of the compounds present in lipid-based drug-delivery systems are esters, such as acylglycerols, phospholipids, polyethyleneglycol mono- and di-esters and polysorbate, which can be hydrolyzed by the various lipolytic enzymes present in the GI tract. Lipolysis of these compounds, along with dietary fats, affects the solubility, dispersion and bioavailibity of poorly water-soluble drugs. Pharmaceutical scientists have been taking a new interest in fat digestion in this context, and several studies presenting in vitro gastrointestinal lipolysis models have been published. In most models, it is generally assumed that pancreatic lipase is the main enzyme involved in the gastrointestinal lipolysis of lipid formulations. It was established, however, that gastric lipase, pancreatic carboxyl ester hydrolaze and pancreatic lipase-related protein 2 are the major players involved in the lipolysis of lipid excipients containing acylglycerols and polyethyleneglycol esters. These findings have shown that the lipolysis of lipid excipients may actually start in the stomach and involve several lipolytic enzymes. These findings should therefore be taken into account when testing in vitro the dispersion and bioavailability of poorly water-soluble drugs formulated with lipids. In this review, we present the latest data available about the lipolytic enzymes involved in gastrointestinal lipolysis and suggest tracks for designing physiologically relevant in vitro digestion models.

Lipids and infant formulas

The ultimate goal in the design of infant formula is to achieve the outcome seen in breast fed infants. This review of lipids in infant formulas for term infants begins by referring to the lipid composition of human milk, and relates that to differences in lipid digestion and metabolism which exist between breast fed and formula fed infants and which may significantly influence fatty acid bioavailability.

Recommendations are made for the lipid content and fatty acid composition of term infant formulas (especially for lauric, linoleic, α-linolenic, long chain 20 and 22C n-3 and n-6 polyunsaturated fatty acids and thetransfatty acids).

Further research is required to define more clearly the long term nutritional, growth and developmental effects of structured lipids in formulas for term infants. More information is required on the differential handling of LCPUFA and other fatty acids at the organ and cellular level. There is a need for large (multi-centre) randomized studies to determine the short and long term functional effects of LCPUFA supplementation. Further research and development is required to determine a commercial source of LCPUFA which is safe, effective and economic. Further information is required on the short and long term effects of cholesterol intake during infancy, and in particular its relationship to LCPUFA metabolism. Long term studies should be initiated to determine the relationship of infant diet (especially saturated fatty acid and cholesterol intake) to the development of cardiovascular disease.

Bile salt-stimulated lipase from human milk binds DC-SIGN and inhibits human immunodeficiency virus type 1 transfer to CD4+ T cells

A wide range of pathogens, including human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1), hepatitis C virus, Ebola virus, cytomegalovirus, dengue virus, Mycobacterium, Leishmania, and Helicobacter pylori, can interact with dendritic cell (DC)-specific ICAM3-grabbing nonintegrin (DC-SIGN), expressed on DCs and a subset of B cells. More specifically, the interaction of the gp120 envelope protein of HIV-1 with DC-SIGN can facilitate the transfer of virus to CD4+ T lymphocytes in trans and enhance infection. We have previously demonstrated that a multimeric LeX component in human milk binds to DC-SIGN, preventing HIV-1 from interacting with this receptor. Biochemical analysis reveals that the compound is heat resistant, trypsin sensitive, and larger than 100 kDa, indicating a specific glycoprotein as the inhibitory compound. By testing human milk from three different mothers, we found the levels of DC-SIGN binding and viral inhibition to vary between samples. Using sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis, Western blotting, and matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization analysis, we identified bile salt-stimulated lipase (BSSL), a Lewis X (LeX)-containing glycoprotein found in human milk, to be the major variant protein between the samples. BSSL isolated from human milk bound to DC-SIGN and inhibited the transfer of HIV-1 to CD4+ T lymphocytes. Two BSSL isoforms isolated from the same human milk sample showed differences in DC-SIGN binding, illustrating that alterations in the BSSL forms explain the differences observed. These results indicate that variations in BSSL lead to alterations in LeX expression by the protein, which subsequently alters the DC-SIGN binding capacity and the inhibitory effect on HIV-1 transfer. Identifying the specific molecular interaction between the different forms may aid in the future design of antimicrobial agents.

Effects of human milk on adhesion of Streptococcus mutans to saliva-coated hydroxyapatite in vitro

Adhesion of bacteria to pellicle-coated tooth surfaces is the first step in biofilm formation on teeth. The aim of this study was to explore whether human milk prevents or promotes adhesion of cariogenic Streptococcus mutans to saliva-coated hydroxyapatite (HA) using an in vitro model system. S. mutans binding to HA coated with human parotid saliva (s-HA) or human milk was studied, in addition to binding inhibition to s-HA by human milk. S. mutans did not bind to HA coated with milk. S. mutans binding to s-HA was inhibited by milk from 15 (71 %) of 21 women, whereas milk from the remaining 6 mothers enhanced binding of S. mutans to s-HA. Inhibition of S. mutans binding correlated with bacterial binding to s-HA (r = 0.76). Human milk does not mediate adhesion of S. mutans to HA in vitro, but affects adhesion in an individually varying fashion. Phenotypic variations in milk and saliva glycosylation may explain the inhibitory capacity and possibly affect susceptibility to colonization by S. mutans in childhood.

Human bile salt-stimulated lipase has a high frequency of size variation due to a hypervariable region in exon 11

The apparent molecular mass of human milk bile salt-stimulated lipase (BSSL) varies between mothers. The molecular basis for this is unknown, but indirect evidence has suggested the differences to reside in a region of repeats located in the C-terminal part of the protein. We here report that a polymorphism within exon 11 of the BSSL gene is the explanation for the molecular variants of BSSL found in milk. By Southern blot hybridization we analyzed the BSSL gene from mothers known to have BSSL of different molecular masses in their milk. A polymorphism was found within exon 11, previously shown to consist of 16 near identical repeats of 33 bp each. We detected deletions or, in one case, an insertion corresponding to the variation in molecular mass of the BSSL protein found in milk from the respective woman. Furthermore, we found that 56%, out of 295 individuals studied, carry deletions or insertions within exon 11 in one or both alleles of the BSSL gene. Hence, this is a hypervariable region and the current understanding that exon 11 in the human BSSL gene encodes 16 repeats is an oversimplification and needs to be revisited. Natural variation in the molecular mass of BSSL may have clinical implications.

Production of recombinant human bile salt stimulated lipase and its variant in Pichia pastoris

hBSSL and its truncated variant hBSSL-C cDNA clones were expressed in Pichia pastoris using two different signal peptides, native signal peptide and invertase signal peptide, respectively, to facilitate secretion of the recombinant proteins into the culture medium. Both recombinant proteins were secreted into the culture medium to a level of 45-50 mg/liter in shake flask cultures. Native signal peptide of hBSSL was recognized in P. pastoris and was cleaved at the same site as in humans. The level of expression of the hBSSL gene was found to be dependent on the number of its copies integrated into the host chromosome. The multicopy transformant clone was found to be very stable. When grown and induced in a fermentor, the level of accumulation of the recombinant hBSSL in the culture medium improved from 50 mg/liter in shake flask cultures to 300 mg/liter. The recombinant hBSSL purified from the culture supernatant was found to be similar to the native hBSSL in its biochemical properties except for the lectin-binding profile.

Lipid metabolism in pediatric nutrition

The abrupt transition from carbohydrate to fat as the main energy source that occurs at birth is not matched by commensurate endogenous fat-digesting capacity in the newborn. Newborn infants are, however, able to digest fat efficiently through the activities of gastric lipase and the exogenous digestive lipase of human milk, which compensate for the low activity of pancreatic lipase. Fat absorption is well-developed at birth and is commensurate with the high fat intake of the infant. Tissue uptake of dietary fat is also adequate, based on sufficient lipoprotein lipase (above 26 to 27 weeks' gestation) and rapid postnatal increase of lecithin:cholesterol acyl transferase, the enzymes that regulate tissue uptake of circulatory lipoprotein triglyceride and cholesterol.

Molecular cloning and expression of rabbit pancreatic cholesterol esterase

Rabbit pancreatic cholesterol esterase (CEase, carboxyl ester lipase, EC 3.1.1.3) has been cloned from a lambda gt11 library of adult rabbit pancreatic cDNA. The open reading frame consists of 1788 nucleotides which encodes 576 amino acids of the functional protein and a 20 amino acid leader peptide. When compared to other species, the greatest homology is observed between residues 82-248 with little or no homology at the C-terminal end where proline-glutamate-serine-threonine (PEST) segments are a characteristic feature of the human CEase. Rabbit CEase (RCEase) retains the active-site serine (gxsxg), the active-site histidine and the tentative heparin binding site (KKRCLQ) at similar positions in comparison to pancreatic CEases of other species. When rabbit CEase cDNA is expressed in monkey kidney (COS-7) cells, enzymatic hydrolytic activity is detected in the growth medium as is a 67 kDa protein by Western blotting with polyclonal anti-CEase antibody. Northern blot analysis shows two mRNA (2.2 and 3.2 kb) species.

Bile salt stimulated lipase: comparative studies in ferret milk and lactating mammary gland

Bile salt stimulated lipase (BSSL) activity is 10-20 times higher in ferret milk than in human milk. We have used the ferret to study BSSL activity in lactating mammary gland and in mammary cells isolated by hyaluronidase-collagenase treatment followed by Ficoll gradient centrifugation. Furthermore, we have compared the characteristics of BSSL in the tissue preparations (homogenate or cells) to BSSL of ferret milk and to BSSL purified from ferret and human milk. The characteristics of BSSL in ferret mammary gland preparations and milk were similar to those of human milk BSSL--absolute requirement of primary bile salts, pH optimum of 7.5-9.0, stability at pH 3-9 and inhibition by eserine (physostigmine) and by serum. Purified ferret milk BSSL had a lower molecular weight (90kD) than did human milk BSSL (125 kD). There was an 86% homology of the N-terminal amino acid sequence between BSSL of ferret and of human milk. The marked similarity in characteristics between BSSL in ferret and human milk and the high activity of BSSL in ferret milk (520 U/mL colostrum and 250 U/mL mature milk) indicate that this species is an ideal animal model for the study of the synthesis and secretion of this digestive lipase which constitutes a significant portion (1-2%) of total milk protein.

Genomic organization, sequence analysis, and chromosomal localization of the human carboxyl ester lipase (CEL) gene and a CEL-like (CELL) gene

The gene encoding human carboxyl ester lipase (CEL), including 1628 bp of the 5'-flanking region, has been isolated and characterized from two overlapping lambda phage clones. The gene spans 9832 bp and contains 11 exons interrupted by 10 introns. The exons range in size from 88 to 204 bp, except for the last exon, which is 841 bp. A major and a minor transcription initiation site were determined 13 and 7 bp, respectively, upstream of the initiator methionine. The nucleotide sequence is identical with that of the previously reported cDNA, except for the third nucleotide in the 5'-untranslated sequence, a C, which in the cDNA is a T. A TAAATA sequence is present 26 nt upstream from the major CAP site, and within the 5'-flanking region there are several putative transcription factor binding sites. Seven Alu repetitive sequence elements are present in the region analyzed. The organization of the human CEL gene is similar to that of the recently reported rat pancreatic cholesterol esterase gene. The CEL gene was assigned to chromosome 9q34-qter, which confirms the recently reported results of Tayler et al. (1991, Genomics 10: 425-431). A previously unknown gene with a striking homology to the human CEL gene, here called the CEL-like gene (CELL), has also been isolated and characterized, including 1724 bp of the 5'-flanking region. The CELL gene, which most likely is a psuedogene, spans 4846 bp, and due to the absence of a 4.8-kb segment, the CEL gene exons 2-7 are not present in the CELL gene. Despite these differences, the CELL gene is transcribed. We have also assigned the CELL gene to a separate locus at chromosome 9q34-qter.

cDNA cloning of human-milk bile-salt-stimulated lipase and evidence for its identity to pancreatic carboxylic ester hydrolase

We have isolated and sequenced cDNA clones covering the entire coding sequence of human-milk bile-salt-stimulated lipase, as well as 996 nucleotides of the 3' end of the pancreatic enzyme carboxylic ester hydrolase. The deduced amino acid sequence of the lipase starts with a 23-residue leader peptide. The open reading frame continues with 722 amino acid residues. The sequence contains in the C-terminal part a proline-rich repeat, 16 repeats of 11 amino acid residues each. The mRNA was estimated to be approximately 2500 nucleotides from Northern blot and of similar size in mammary and pancreatic tissues. Data obtained indicate that the lipase and the carboxylesterase are identical and coded for by the same gene. The cDNA is 2428 bases long, which indicates that a near full-length copy of the transcript has been isolated. Comparisons with other enzymes show that the lipase is a new member of the supergene family of serine hydrolases. It is not only closely related (and in its N-terminal half virtually identical) to lysophospholipase from rat pancreas and cholesterol esterase from bovine pancreas, but also shows a high degree of similarity to several esterases, e.g. acetylcholine esterase. In contrast, no such similarity could be found to typical lipases.