This inactivation is accomplished through hydrolysis of the epoxide functional group contained within these hormones into diols.

The inactivated carboxylic acid products of juvenile hormone esterase can be reactivated in peripheral tissues by esterification restoring its biological activity.

In contrast, the juvenile hormone diols that are the product of the epoxide hydrolase are very hydrophilic and cannot be converted back to JH.

Thus, this enzyme permanently terminates the action of juvenile hormone, unlike JH esterase.

Sequence alignments showed that the exact catalytic triad of the animal enzyme (Asp-226, Glu-403 and His-430) is present in JHEH.