The enzyme arylesterase (EC 3.1.1.2) catalyzes the reaction
a phenyl acetate + H2O a phenol + acetate
This enzyme belongs to the family of hydrolases, specifically those acting on carboxylic ester bonds. The systematic name 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 have been solved for this class of enzymes, with PDB accession codes 1V04 and 1VA4.
Khersonsky O, Tawfik DS (Apr 2005). "Structure-reactivity studies of serum paraoxonase PON1 suggest that its native activity is lactonase". Biochemistry. 44 (16): 6371–82. doi:10.1021/bi047440d. PMID15835926.