biostudies-literatureUnknown7(1)Cavazzini DAn increasing number of esterases is being revealed by (meta) genomic sequencing projects, but few of them are functionally/structurally characterized, especially enzymes of fungal origin. Starting from a three-member gene family of secreted putative "lipases/esterases" preferentially expressed in the symbiotic phase of the mycorrhizal fungus Tuber melanosporum ("black truffle"), we show here that these enzymes (TmelEST1-3) are dimeric, heat-resistant carboxylesterases capable of hydrolyzing various short/medium chain p-nitrophenyl esters. TmelEST2 was the most active (kcat = 2302 s^-1 for p-nitrophenyl-butyrate) and thermally stable (T₅₀ = 68.3 °C), while TmelEST3 was the only one displaying some activity on tertiary alcohol esters. X-ray diffraction analysis of TmelEScientific reports7628https://www.ebi.ac.uk/biostudies/studies/S-EPMC5550427biostudies-literatureA family of archaea-like carboxylesterases preferentially expressed in the symbiotic phase of the mychorrizal fungus Tuber melanosporum.PMC5550427Cavazzini DOttonello SGrossi GVallese FBolchi ALevati EZanotti GMontanini BfalseA family of archaea-like carboxylesterases preferentially expressed in the symbiotic phase of the mychorrizal fungus Tuber melanosporum.An increasing number of esterases is being revealed by (meta) genomic sequencing projects, but few of them are functionally/structurally characterized, especially enzymes of fungal origin. Starting from a three-member gene family of secreted putative "lipases/esterases" preferentially expressed in the symbiotic phase of the mycorrhizal fungus Tuber melanosporum ("black truffle"), we show here that these enzymes (TmelEST1-3) are dimeric, heat-resistant carboxylesterases capable of hydrolyzing various short/medium chain p-nitrophenyl esters. TmelEST2 was the most active (kcat = 2302 s^-1 for p-nitrophenyl-butyrate) and thermally stable (T₅₀ = 68.3 °C), while TmelEST3 was the only one displaying some activity on tertiary alcohol esters. X-ray diffraction analysis of TmelE2017-01-01T00:00:00Z2017 Aug2026-04-15T23:14:25.755Z2019-03-26T23:53:01ZS-EPMC55504272879446610.1038/s41598-017-08007-9