In biochemistry, thioesterases are enzymes which belong to the esterase family.
Thioesterases exhibit esterase activity (splitting of an ester into an acid and an alcohol, in the presence of water) specifically at a thiol group (−SH).
Thioesterases or thiolester hydrolases are identified as members of EC 3.1.2.
The regulatory role of ACOT in fatty acid metabolism depends on their substrate specificity, tissue expression and subcellular localization.
Type II ACOTs (ACOT7–15) have a characteristic structural motif called the ‘Hotdog fold’ domain .