Carboxylesterases are enzymes that hydrolyse carboxyl esters. Examples are acetylcholinesterases and lipases. Carboxylesterases were classified into three categories (A, B and C) on the basis of different patterns of inhibition by organophosphates. The sequence of a number of type-B carboxylesterases indicates that the majority are evolutionary related [1]. The active center of esterases involves three residues (catalytic triad): a serine, a glutamate or aspartate and a histidine. This family belongs to the superfamily of proteins with the α/β hydrolase fold.
The 70 kDa bee venom allergen Api m 8 belongs to this family.
Family-defining Pfam domains (at least one of these domains is present in each family member):
| Pfam domain | Pfam clan | ||
| PF00135 | Carboxylesterase family | CL0028 | Alpha/Beta hydrolase fold |
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