Sterol esterase

In enzymology, a sterol esterase (EC 3.1.1.13) is an enzyme that catalyzes the chemical reaction

sterol ester + H₂O ${\displaystyle \rightleftharpoons }$ sterol + fatty acid

Thus, the two substrates of this enzyme are sterol ester and H₂O, whereas its two products are sterol and fatty acid.

This enzyme belongs to the family of hydrolases, specifically those acting on carboxylic ester bonds. The systematic name of this enzyme class is steryl-ester acylhydrolase. Other names in common use include cholesterol esterase, cholesteryl ester synthase, triterpenol esterase, cholesteryl esterase, cholesteryl ester hydrolase, sterol ester hydrolase, cholesterol ester hydrolase, cholesterase, and acylcholesterol lipase. This enzyme participates in bile acid biosynthesis.

References[]

• Hyun J, Kothari H, Herm E, Mortenson J, Treadwell CR, Vahouny GV (1969). "Purification and properties of pancreatic juice cholesterol esterase". J. Biol. Chem. 244 (7): 1937–45. PMID 5780846.
• Okawa Y, Yamaguchi T (May 1977). "Studies on sterol-ester hydrolase from Fusarium oxysporum. I Partial purification and properties". J. Biochem. Tokyo. 81 (5): 1209–15. PMID 19426.
• Vahouny GV, Treadwell CR (1968). "Enzymatic synthesis and hydrolysis of cholesterol esters". Methods. Biochem. Anal. Methods of Biochemical Analysis. 16: 219–72. doi:10.1002/9780470110348.ch4. ISBN 978-0-470-11034-8. PMID 4877146.
• Warnaar F (1987). "Triterpene ester synthesis in latex of Euphorbia species". Phytochemistry. 26 (10): 2715–2721. doi:10.1016/S0031-9422(00)83578-5.