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An esterase is a hydrolase enzyme that splits esters into an acid and an alcohol in a chemical reaction with water called hydrolysis.

A wide range of different esterases exist that differ in their substrate specificity, their protein structure, and their biological function.

EC classification/list of enzymes

• 
  
  • 
    Acetylesterase (EC 3.1.1.6), splits off acetyl groups
    
    • 
      Cholinesterase
      
      
      
      • 
        Acetylcholinesterase, inactivates the neurotransmitter acetylcholine
        
      
      
      • 
        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 cAMP
      
      • 
        cGMP specific phosphodiesterase type 5, is inhibited by Sildenafil (Viagra)
      
      
    
    
    
    
  
  
  • 
    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
  


• 
  Exonucleases (deoxyribonucleases and ribonucleases)
  
  
  
  • 
    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-
  
  
  
  


• 
  Endonucleases (deoxyribonucleases and ribonucleases)
  
  
  
  • 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

• Enzyme nomenclature