The temperature activity relationships of serum cholinesterases.

A study has been made of the temperature activity relationships of the serum cholinesterase variants differentiated by means of dibucaine and fluoride inhibition. Using benzoylcholine as substrate, there is a characteristic temperature activity curve for each phenotype, and, for those most sensitive to succinyldicholine, this differs radically from that of the normal enzyme.A true index of serum cholinesterase activity is obtained only at 37 degrees C, as at other temperatures various assumptions and correction factors have to be made, and the results could be misleading.