Target intelligence / Profile preview

Rabbit carboxylesterase (rCE)

Target: rCE
Molecular classification: Enzyme, Serine hydrolase, Carboxylesterase

Overview

Rabbit carboxylesterase is a serine hydrolase enzyme (officially known as carboxylesterase or esterase 1 in rabbits) that catalyzes the hydrolysis of carboxylic esters, amides, thioesters, and carbamates to their respective acids and alcohols. This enzyme, highly homologous to mammalian carboxylesterases, is primarily expressed in liver and other tissues involved in xenobiotic metabolism, and plays a significant role in both endogenous lipid metabolism and the biotransformation of drugs and xenobiotics. Rabbit carboxylesterase is structurally similar to human and mouse carboxylesterases, sharing a conserved catalytic triad required for activity. It differs from lipases by substrate range, preferring water-soluble short-chain esters over long-chain triglycerides. Rabbit carboxylesterase is essential in preclinical pharmacology, especially as a model species for drug metabolism and ocular drug delivery research; however, species-specific differences in substrate selectivity and tissue distribution can affect extrapolation to human drug metabolism and therapeutic applications.

Other names: esterase 1 (rabbit liver)rLE (rabbit liver esterase)rabbit liver carboxylesterase

Mechanism of action

Hydrolysis of ester, amide, thioester, and carbamate groups via a catalytic triad conserved across carboxylesterases. Plays a key role in the activation and inactivation of ester prodrugs and the hydrolysis of xenobiotics

Biological functions

Hydrolysis of carboxylic esters, amides, thioesters, and carbamatesDrug metabolismLipid metabolism

Disease associations

Drug response/Drug metabolism (important in preclinical animal models)Other (not primarily associated with specific human diseases, but relevant for drug metabolism studies using rabbits)

Safety considerations

Species differences: Rabbit carboxylesterase isoforms may differ in substrate specificity and expression when compared to human and other animal enzymes, potentially complicating translation of preclinical findings to humansLow expression in some tissues: Quantitation and activity may be low/variable, especially in ocular tissues, impacting predictiveness for drug metabolism in those compartments

Interacting drugs

Procaine

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