Carboxylesterase 3 is a member of a large multigene family. The enzymes encoded by these genes are responsible for the hydrolysis of ester- and amide-bond-containing drugs such as cocaine and heroin. They also hydrolyze long-chain fatty acid esters and thioesters. The specific function of this enzyme has not yet been determined; however, it is speculated that carboxylesterases may play a role in lipid metabolism and/or the blood–brain barrier system.[8]
^Sanghani SP, Quinney SK, Fredenburg TB, Sun Z, Davis WI, Murry DJ, Cummings OW, Seitz DE, Bosron WF (Oct 2003). "Carboxylesterases expressed in human colon tumor tissue and their role in CPT-11 hydrolysis". Clin Cancer Res. 9 (13): 4983–91. PMID14581373.
^Sanghani SP, Quinney SK, Fredenburg TB, Davis WI, Murry DJ, Bosron WF (Apr 2004). "Hydrolysis of irinotecan and its oxidative metabolites, 7-ethyl-10-[4-N-(5-aminopentanoic acid)-1-piperidino] carbonyloxycamptothecin and 7-ethyl-10-[4-(1-piperidino)-1-amino]-carbonyloxycamptothecin, by human carboxylesterases CES1A1, CES2, and a newly expressed carboxylesterase isoenzyme, CES3". Drug Metab Dispos. 32 (5): 505–11. doi:10.1124/dmd.32.5.505. PMID15100172.
Hassel S, Eichner A, Yakymovych M, et al. (2004). "Proteins associated with type II bone morphogenetic protein receptor (BMPR-II) and identified by two-dimensional gel electrophoresis and mass spectrometry". Proteomics. 4 (5): 1346–58. doi:10.1002/pmic.200300770. PMID15188402. S2CID6773754.