The enzyme arylesterase (EC 3.1.1.2)
catalyzes
Catalysis () is the process of increasing the rate of a chemical reaction by adding a substance known as a catalyst (). Catalysts are not consumed in the reaction and remain unchanged after it. If the reaction is rapid and the catalyst recyc ...
the reaction
:a phenyl acetate + H
2O
a phenol + acetate
This enzyme belongs to the family of
hydrolase
Hydrolase is a class of enzyme that commonly perform as biochemical catalysts that use water to break a chemical bond, which typically results in dividing a larger molecule into smaller molecules. Some common examples of hydrolase enzymes are este ...
s, specifically those acting on carboxylic
ester
In chemistry, an ester is a compound derived from an oxoacid (organic or inorganic) in which at least one hydroxyl group () is replaced by an alkoxy group (), as in the substitution reaction of a carboxylic acid and an alcohol. Glycerides ar ...
bonds. The
systematic name A systematic name is a name given in a systematic way to one unique group, organism, object or chemical substance, out of a specific population or collection. Systematic names are usually part of a nomenclature.
A semisystematic name or semitrivial ...
of this enzyme class is aryl-ester hydrolase. Other names in common use include A-esterase, paraoxonase, and aromatic esterase. This enzyme participates in
bisphenol a degradation.
Structural studies
As of late 2007, two
structures
A structure is an arrangement and organization of interrelated elements in a material object or system, or the object or system so organized. Material structures include man-made objects such as buildings and machines and natural objects such as ...
have been solved for this class of enzymes, with
PDB accession codes and .
References
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EC 3.1.1
Enzymes of known structure
{{3.1-enzyme-stub