What is "acetylesterase"

n. (context enzyme English) Any enzyme that catalyzes the hydrolysis of an acetate ester

In enzymology, an acetylesterase is an enzyme that catalyzes the chemical reaction

an acetic ester + HO $\rightleftharpoons$ an alcohol + acetate

Thus, the two substrates of this enzyme are acetic ester and HO, whereas its two products are alcohol and acetate.

This enzyme belongs to the family of hydrolases, specifically those acting on carboxylic ester bonds. The systematic name of this enzyme class is acetic-ester acetylhydrolase. Other names in common use include C-esterase (in animal tissues), acetic ester hydrolase, chloroesterase, p-nitrophenyl acetate esterase, and Citrus acetylesterase.