The non-specific esterases of the marine snail: Littorina littorea. Histochemical characterization

Abstract o 1. Esterases from the soft body parts of the marine snail Littorina littorea were extracted and analyzed by starch gel electrophoresis using a variety of substrates and inhibitors. 2. On the basis of relative mobility and substrate and inhibitor specificities, the multiple bands of activity revealed were divided into eight distinct “regions”. 3. Five of the eight esterase regions are different biochemically and are tentatively considered to be genetically distinct. 4. The possible usefulness of L. littorea as an indicator of the genetic effects of environmental factors is discussed.