Feruloyl esterase

The enzyme feruloyl esterase (EC 3.1.1.73) catalyzes the reaction


 * feruloyl-polysaccharide + H2O $$\rightleftharpoons$$ ferulate + polysaccharide

This enzyme belongs to the family of hydrolases, specifically those acting on carboxylic ester bonds. The systematic name is 4-hydroxy-3-methoxycinnamoyl-sugar hydrolase. Other names in common use include ferulic acid esterase (FAE), hydroxycinnamoyl esterase, hemicellulase accessory enzyme, cinnamoyl ester hydrolase (cinnAE).

Structural studies
As of late 2007, 6 structures have been solved for this class of enzymes, with PDB accession codes, , , , , and.