Higher eukaryotes have many distinct esterases. The different types include those that act on carboxylic esters (EC3.1.1). Carboxyl-esterases have been classified into three categories (A, B and C) on the basis of differential patterns of inhibition by organophosphates. The sequence of a number of type-B carboxylesterases indicates[2][3][4] that the majority are evolutionarily related. As is the case for lipases and serine proteases, the catalytic apparatus of esterases involves three residues (catalytic triad): a serine, a glutamate or aspartate and a histidine.
^Nachon F, Asojo OA, Borgstahl GE, Masson P, Lockridge O (February 2005). "Role of water in aging of human butyrylcholinesterase inhibited by echothiophate: the crystal structure suggests two alternative mechanisms of aging". Biochemistry. 44 (4): 1154–62. CiteSeerX10.1.1.529.7283. doi:10.1021/bi048238d. PMID15667209.