View source for Esterase

{{Short description|Class of enzymes which split esters into an acid and alcohol via hydrolysis}}
{{distinguish|Transferase}}

In [[biochemistry]], an '''esterase''' is a class of [[enzyme]] that splits [[ester]]s into an [[acid]] and an [[Alcohol (chemistry)|alcohol]] in a [[chemical reaction]] with [[water (molecule)|water]] called [[hydrolysis]] (and as such, it is a type of [[hydrolase]]).

A wide range of different esterases exist that differ in their [[Substrate (biochemistry)|substrate]] specificity, their [[protein structure]], and their biological function.

== EC classification/list of enzymes ==
* ''EC 3.1.1'': Carboxylic ester hydrolases
** [[Acetylesterase]] (EC 3.1.1.6), splits off [[acetyl]] [[functional group|groups]]
*** [[Cholinesterase]]
**** [[Acetylcholinesterase]], inactivates the [[neurotransmitter]] [[acetylcholine]]
**** [[Butyrylcholinesterase|Pseudocholinesterase]], broad substrate specificity, found in the [[blood plasma]] and in the [[liver]]
** [[Pectinesterase]] (EC 3.1.1.11), clarifies fruit juices
* ''EC 3.1.2'': [[Thiolester hydrolases]]
** [[Thioesterase]]
*** [[Ubiquitin carboxy-terminal hydrolase L1]]
* ''EC 3.1.3'': [[Phosphoric monoester hydrolases]]
** [[Phosphatase]] (EC 3.1.3.x), hydrolyses [[phosphoric acid monoesters]] into a [[phosphate]] ion and an alcohol
*** [[Alkaline phosphatase]], removes phosphate groups from many types of molecules, including nucleotides, proteins, and alkaloids. 
*** [[Phosphodiesterase]] (PDE), inactivates the [[second messenger]] [[Cyclic adenosine monophosphate|cAMP]]
**** [[cGMP specific phosphodiesterase type 5]], is inhibited by [[Sildenafil]] (Viagra)
** [[Fructose 1,6-bisphosphatase|Fructose bisphosphatase]] (3.1.3.11), converts fructose-1,6-bisphosphate to fructose-6-phosphate in [[gluconeogenesis]]
* ''EC 3.1.4'': [[Phosphoric diester hydrolases]]
* ''EC 3.1.5'': [[Triphosphoric monoester hydrolases]]
* ''EC 3.1.6'': [[Sulfuric ester hydrolases]] ([[sulfatases]])
* ''EC 3.1.7'': [[Diphosphoric monoester hydrolases]]
* ''EC 3.1.8'': [[Phosphoric triester hydrolases]]
* [[Exonuclease]]s ([[deoxyribonuclease]]s and [[ribonuclease]]s)
** ''EC 3.1.11'': [[Exodeoxyribonucleases]] producing [[5'-phosphomonoesters]]
** ''EC 3.1.13'': [[Exoribonucleases]] producing [[5'-phosphomonoesters]]
** ''EC 3.1.14'': [[Exoribonucleases]] producing [[3'-phosphomonoesters]]
** ''EC 3.1.15'': [[Exonucleases]] active with either ribo- or deoxy-
* [[Endonuclease]]s ([[deoxyribonuclease]]s and [[ribonuclease]]s)
** [[Endodeoxyribonuclease]]
** [[Endoribonuclease]]
** either deoxy- or ribo-

== See also ==
* [[Enzyme]]
* [[List of enzymes]]
* [[Carboxylic acid]]
* [[Ester]]
* [[Leukocyte esterase]]
* [[Hemagglutinin esterase]]
* [[Nuclease]]
* [[Lipase]]
* [[Asymmetric ester hydrolysis with pig-liver esterase]]

== External links ==
* [http://www.chem.qmul.ac.uk/iubmb/enzyme/EC3/1/ Enzyme nomenclature]

{{Esterases}}
{{Enzymes}}
{{Portal bar|Biology|border=no}}
{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Hydrolases]]
[[Category:Esters]]
[[Category:EC 3.1| ]]
[[Category:Neurophysiology]]