Experimental and In Silico Approaches to Study Carboxylesterase Substrate Specificity

Autores
Ribone, Sergio Roman; Quevedo, Mario Alfredo
Año de publicación
2026
Idioma
inglés
Tipo de recurso
artículo
Estado
versión publicada
Descripción
Human carboxylesterases (CES) are enzymes that play a central role in the metabolism and biotransformation of diverse endogenous substances and xenobiotics. The two most relevant isoforms, CES1 and CES2, are crucial in clinical pharmacotherapy as they catalyze the hydrolysis of numerous approved drugs and prodrugs. Elucidating the structural basis of CES isoform substrate specificity is essential not only for understanding and anticipating the biological fate of administered drugs, but also for designing prodrugs with optimized site-specific bioactivation. Additionally, this knowledge is also important for the design of biomedically useful molecules such as subtype-targeted CES inhibitors and fluorescent probes. In this context, both experimental and computational methodologies have been used to explore the mechanistic and thermodynamic properties of CES-mediated catalysis. Experimental designs commonly employ recombinant CES or human tissue microsomes as enzyme sources, utilizing quantification methods such as spectrophotometry (UV and fluorescence) and mass spectrometry. Computational approaches fall into two categories: (1) modeling substrate: CES recognition and affinity (molecular docking, molecular dynamics simulation, and free-energy binding calculations), and (2) modeling substrate: CES reaction coordinates (hybrid QM/MM simulations). While experimental and theoretical approaches are highly synergistic in studying the catalytic properties of CES subtypes, they represent distinct technical and scientific fields. This review aims to provide an integrated discussion of the key concepts and the interplay between the most commonly used wet-lab and dry-lab strategies for investigating CES catalytic activity. We hope this report will serve as a concise resource for researchers exploring CES isoform specificity, enabling them to effectively utilize both experimental and computational methods.
Fil: Ribone, Sergio Roman. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Córdoba. Unidad de Investigación y Desarrollo en Tecnología Farmacéutica. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba. Facultad de Ciencias Químicas. Unidad de Investigación y Desarrollo en Tecnología Farmacéutica; Argentina
Fil: Quevedo, Mario Alfredo. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Córdoba. Unidad de Investigación y Desarrollo en Tecnología Farmacéutica. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba. Facultad de Ciencias Químicas. Unidad de Investigación y Desarrollo en Tecnología Farmacéutica; Argentina
Materia
Carboxyl esterases
Nivel de accesibilidad
acceso abierto
Condiciones de uso
https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.5/ar/
Repositorio
CONICET Digital (CONICET)
Institución
Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas
OAI Identificador
oai:ri.conicet.gov.ar:11336/287876

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spelling Experimental and In Silico Approaches to Study Carboxylesterase Substrate SpecificityRibone, Sergio RomanQuevedo, Mario AlfredoCarboxyl esteraseshttps://purl.org/becyt/ford/1.4https://purl.org/becyt/ford/1Human carboxylesterases (CES) are enzymes that play a central role in the metabolism and biotransformation of diverse endogenous substances and xenobiotics. The two most relevant isoforms, CES1 and CES2, are crucial in clinical pharmacotherapy as they catalyze the hydrolysis of numerous approved drugs and prodrugs. Elucidating the structural basis of CES isoform substrate specificity is essential not only for understanding and anticipating the biological fate of administered drugs, but also for designing prodrugs with optimized site-specific bioactivation. Additionally, this knowledge is also important for the design of biomedically useful molecules such as subtype-targeted CES inhibitors and fluorescent probes. In this context, both experimental and computational methodologies have been used to explore the mechanistic and thermodynamic properties of CES-mediated catalysis. Experimental designs commonly employ recombinant CES or human tissue microsomes as enzyme sources, utilizing quantification methods such as spectrophotometry (UV and fluorescence) and mass spectrometry. Computational approaches fall into two categories: (1) modeling substrate: CES recognition and affinity (molecular docking, molecular dynamics simulation, and free-energy binding calculations), and (2) modeling substrate: CES reaction coordinates (hybrid QM/MM simulations). While experimental and theoretical approaches are highly synergistic in studying the catalytic properties of CES subtypes, they represent distinct technical and scientific fields. This review aims to provide an integrated discussion of the key concepts and the interplay between the most commonly used wet-lab and dry-lab strategies for investigating CES catalytic activity. We hope this report will serve as a concise resource for researchers exploring CES isoform specificity, enabling them to effectively utilize both experimental and computational methods.Fil: Ribone, Sergio Roman. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Córdoba. Unidad de Investigación y Desarrollo en Tecnología Farmacéutica. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba. Facultad de Ciencias Químicas. Unidad de Investigación y Desarrollo en Tecnología Farmacéutica; ArgentinaFil: Quevedo, Mario Alfredo. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Córdoba. Unidad de Investigación y Desarrollo en Tecnología Farmacéutica. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba. Facultad de Ciencias Químicas. Unidad de Investigación y Desarrollo en Tecnología Farmacéutica; ArgentinaMDPI2026-01info:eu-repo/semantics/articleinfo:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersionhttp://purl.org/coar/resource_type/c_6501info:ar-repo/semantics/articuloapplication/pdfapplication/pdfapplication/pdfhttp://hdl.handle.net/11336/287876Ribone, Sergio Roman; Quevedo, Mario Alfredo; Experimental and In Silico Approaches to Study Carboxylesterase Substrate Specificity; MDPI; Journal of Xenobiotics; 16; 1; 1-2026; 1-262039-4713CONICET DigitalCONICETenginfo:eu-repo/semantics/altIdentifier/url/https://www.mdpi.com/2039-4713/16/1/11info:eu-repo/semantics/altIdentifier/doi/10.3390/jox16010011info:eu-repo/semantics/openAccesshttps://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.5/ar/reponame:CONICET Digital (CONICET)instname:Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas2026-08-25T14:34:39Zoai:ri.conicet.gov.ar:11336/287876instacron:CONICETInstitucionalhttp://ri.conicet.gov.ar/Organismo científico-tecnológicoNo correspondehttp://ri.conicet.gov.ar/oai/requestdasensio@conicet.gov.ar; lcarlino@conicet.gov.arArgentinaNo correspondeNo correspondeNo correspondeopendoar:34982026-08-25 14:34:40.104CONICET Digital (CONICET) - Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicasfalse
dc.title.none.fl_str_mv Experimental and In Silico Approaches to Study Carboxylesterase Substrate Specificity
title Experimental and In Silico Approaches to Study Carboxylesterase Substrate Specificity
spellingShingle Experimental and In Silico Approaches to Study Carboxylesterase Substrate Specificity
Ribone, Sergio Roman
Carboxyl esterases
title_short Experimental and In Silico Approaches to Study Carboxylesterase Substrate Specificity
title_full Experimental and In Silico Approaches to Study Carboxylesterase Substrate Specificity
title_fullStr Experimental and In Silico Approaches to Study Carboxylesterase Substrate Specificity
title_full_unstemmed Experimental and In Silico Approaches to Study Carboxylesterase Substrate Specificity
title_sort Experimental and In Silico Approaches to Study Carboxylesterase Substrate Specificity
dc.creator.none.fl_str_mv Ribone, Sergio Roman
Quevedo, Mario Alfredo
author Ribone, Sergio Roman
author_facet Ribone, Sergio Roman
Quevedo, Mario Alfredo
author_role author
author2 Quevedo, Mario Alfredo
author2_role author
dc.subject.none.fl_str_mv Carboxyl esterases
topic Carboxyl esterases
purl_subject.fl_str_mv https://purl.org/becyt/ford/1.4
https://purl.org/becyt/ford/1
dc.description.none.fl_txt_mv Human carboxylesterases (CES) are enzymes that play a central role in the metabolism and biotransformation of diverse endogenous substances and xenobiotics. The two most relevant isoforms, CES1 and CES2, are crucial in clinical pharmacotherapy as they catalyze the hydrolysis of numerous approved drugs and prodrugs. Elucidating the structural basis of CES isoform substrate specificity is essential not only for understanding and anticipating the biological fate of administered drugs, but also for designing prodrugs with optimized site-specific bioactivation. Additionally, this knowledge is also important for the design of biomedically useful molecules such as subtype-targeted CES inhibitors and fluorescent probes. In this context, both experimental and computational methodologies have been used to explore the mechanistic and thermodynamic properties of CES-mediated catalysis. Experimental designs commonly employ recombinant CES or human tissue microsomes as enzyme sources, utilizing quantification methods such as spectrophotometry (UV and fluorescence) and mass spectrometry. Computational approaches fall into two categories: (1) modeling substrate: CES recognition and affinity (molecular docking, molecular dynamics simulation, and free-energy binding calculations), and (2) modeling substrate: CES reaction coordinates (hybrid QM/MM simulations). While experimental and theoretical approaches are highly synergistic in studying the catalytic properties of CES subtypes, they represent distinct technical and scientific fields. This review aims to provide an integrated discussion of the key concepts and the interplay between the most commonly used wet-lab and dry-lab strategies for investigating CES catalytic activity. We hope this report will serve as a concise resource for researchers exploring CES isoform specificity, enabling them to effectively utilize both experimental and computational methods.
Fil: Ribone, Sergio Roman. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Córdoba. Unidad de Investigación y Desarrollo en Tecnología Farmacéutica. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba. Facultad de Ciencias Químicas. Unidad de Investigación y Desarrollo en Tecnología Farmacéutica; Argentina
Fil: Quevedo, Mario Alfredo. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Córdoba. Unidad de Investigación y Desarrollo en Tecnología Farmacéutica. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba. Facultad de Ciencias Químicas. Unidad de Investigación y Desarrollo en Tecnología Farmacéutica; Argentina
description Human carboxylesterases (CES) are enzymes that play a central role in the metabolism and biotransformation of diverse endogenous substances and xenobiotics. The two most relevant isoforms, CES1 and CES2, are crucial in clinical pharmacotherapy as they catalyze the hydrolysis of numerous approved drugs and prodrugs. Elucidating the structural basis of CES isoform substrate specificity is essential not only for understanding and anticipating the biological fate of administered drugs, but also for designing prodrugs with optimized site-specific bioactivation. Additionally, this knowledge is also important for the design of biomedically useful molecules such as subtype-targeted CES inhibitors and fluorescent probes. In this context, both experimental and computational methodologies have been used to explore the mechanistic and thermodynamic properties of CES-mediated catalysis. Experimental designs commonly employ recombinant CES or human tissue microsomes as enzyme sources, utilizing quantification methods such as spectrophotometry (UV and fluorescence) and mass spectrometry. Computational approaches fall into two categories: (1) modeling substrate: CES recognition and affinity (molecular docking, molecular dynamics simulation, and free-energy binding calculations), and (2) modeling substrate: CES reaction coordinates (hybrid QM/MM simulations). While experimental and theoretical approaches are highly synergistic in studying the catalytic properties of CES subtypes, they represent distinct technical and scientific fields. This review aims to provide an integrated discussion of the key concepts and the interplay between the most commonly used wet-lab and dry-lab strategies for investigating CES catalytic activity. We hope this report will serve as a concise resource for researchers exploring CES isoform specificity, enabling them to effectively utilize both experimental and computational methods.
publishDate 2026
dc.date.none.fl_str_mv 2026-01
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dc.identifier.none.fl_str_mv http://hdl.handle.net/11336/287876
Ribone, Sergio Roman; Quevedo, Mario Alfredo; Experimental and In Silico Approaches to Study Carboxylesterase Substrate Specificity; MDPI; Journal of Xenobiotics; 16; 1; 1-2026; 1-26
2039-4713
CONICET Digital
CONICET
url http://hdl.handle.net/11336/287876
identifier_str_mv Ribone, Sergio Roman; Quevedo, Mario Alfredo; Experimental and In Silico Approaches to Study Carboxylesterase Substrate Specificity; MDPI; Journal of Xenobiotics; 16; 1; 1-2026; 1-26
2039-4713
CONICET Digital
CONICET
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language eng
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