What is an esterase reaction?

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.

Where is esterase produced?

2002), whereas extracellular sterol esterase is produced by Ophistoma piceae in submerged fermentation growing on glucose and on different C-sources (like olive oil, agro-industrial by-products; Calero-Rueda et al. 2002). In most cases, such substrates contain the required inducer.

What does an esterase do?

Esterases are enzymes that catalyze the hydrolysis of an ester group from a variety of substrates so that the esterified acid is released. The major group of esterases that is used for industrial purposes is lipase.

What is the difference between esterase and lipase?

Esterases were defined as enzymes which hydrolyze ester linkages by the addition of a water molecule. Whereas esterases preferentially break ester bonds of shorter chain fatty acids, lipases display a much broader substrate range than the esterases.

How many types of esterase are there?

Two types of esterase (A and B) hydrolysing p-nitrophenyl acetate, propionate and butyrate and a method for their determination.

What does esterase mean in English?

: an enzyme that accelerates the hydrolysis or synthesis of esters.

Are Esterases lipases?

Lipases are lipolytic enzymes which constitute a special class of carboxylic esterases capable of releasing long-chain fatty acids from natural water-insoluble carboxylic esters.

Are lipases a type of hydrolase?

Lipases or triacylglycerol acyl hydrolases are a class of hydrolase enzymes, which helps in the hydrolysis of triglycerides and acts on carboxylic ester bonds.

What does leukocyte esterase mean in a blood test?

Leukocyte esterase is a screening test used to detect a substance that suggests there are white blood cells in the urine. This may mean you have a urinary tract infection. If this test is positive, the urine should be examined under a microscope for white blood cells and other signs that point to an infection.