The substrate specificity of glycerol ester hydrolase from pig aorta and serum.

The activity of glycerol ester hydrolase (GEH) from aorta wall, at optimum pH and triacylglycerol substrate concentration (optimal for each substrate) decreased in the following order: C18:1 greater than or equal to C18:2 greater than or equal to C18:0 greater than or equal to C18:3 greater than or equal to C16:0. At optimum pH and the same substrate concentration (1 mM), the activity of GEH from aorta wall decreased in a slightly different order: C18:1 greater than or equal to C18:2 greater than or equal to C18:3 greater than C18:0 greater than C16:0 and that of the enzyme from serum in the order: C18:1 = C18:3 greater than C18:2 greater than or equal to C16:0 greater than or equal to C18:0. These differences in substrate affinity of GEH may influence the metabolism and accumulation of acylalcohols and alcohols in arterial wall and serum.