GO:0016803 ether hydrolase activity: Mechanism, Genes and Research Methods

Research-grade guide for scientists and biopharma professionals

Key Takeaways

GO:0016803 (ether hydrolase activity) describes catalysis of the hydrolysis of an ether bond (-O-), a molecular function assigned to enzymes that cleave carbon-oxygen-carbon linkages.
Experimentally characterized ether hydrolases include leukotriene A4 hydrolase (LTA4H), whose aminopeptidase activity is modulated by diaryl ether and diphenyl ether compounds.
Epoxide hydrolases such as Phaseolus vulgaris PvEH3 act on glycidyl ether substrates, and their catalytic activity and enantioselectivity can be improved by semi-rational design.
Ether analogs of cholesteryl esters and acylglycerides inhibit retinyl palmitate hydrolase activity, showing that ether-containing molecules can probe hydrolase active sites.
Artificial hydrolases built on aza-crown ether metal complexes demonstrate that ether-scaffolded catalysts can mimic hydrolytic chemistry.
Ether hydrolase activity is relevant to inflammation, lipid signaling, and cancer biology through enzymes such as LTA4H and glycosylated antitumor ether lipids.

Description

GO:0016803, ether hydrolase activity, is a molecular function term in the Gene Ontology that describes catalysis of the hydrolysis of an ether bond, -O-. Ether bonds are chemically stable carbon-oxygen-carbon linkages found in many natural and synthetic molecules, and enzymes that cleave them are important both for basic biochemistry and for drug discovery. The term is distinct from generic hydrolase activity because it specifies the scissile bond as an ether linkage rather than an ester, amide, or glycosidic bond. Researchers study ether hydrolases to understand lipid mediator metabolism, detoxification, and the design of enzyme inhibitors or artificial catalysts. Because ether-containing compounds are common in pharmacology and chemical biology, this GO term provides a precise annotation target for enzymes that act on substrates such as leukotriene A4, glycidyl ethers, and ether lipid analogs.

ether hydrolase activity At A Glance

GO ID GO:0016803
GO term ether hydrolase activity
Ontology molecular_function
Synonym none
Major function Catalysis of the hydrolysis of an ether bond, -O-
Representative enzymes Leukotriene A4 hydrolase (LTA4H), epoxide hydrolases such as PvEH3, artificial aza-crown ether metal complex hydrolases
Example substrates Diaryl ether compounds, diphenyl ether derivatives, ortho-cresyl glycidyl ether, ether analogs of cholesteryl esters and acylglycerides
Related disease areas Inflammation, lipid signaling, cancer, and retinoid metabolism
Research methods Enzyme kinetics, inhibitor screening, semi-rational enzyme design, and CRISPR-based gene editing

What Is GO:0016803?

Ether hydrolase activity (GO:0016803) is defined as catalysis of the hydrolysis of an ether bond, -O-. In practical terms, an enzyme with this activity uses water to break a carbon-oxygen-carbon ether linkage, generating cleavage products that no longer contain the original ether bond. This activity is classified under molecular_function and is used to annotate enzymes such as leukotriene A4 hydrolase when acting on ether-containing substrates, epoxide hydrolases acting on glycidyl ethers, and artificial hydrolase complexes that cleave ether bonds.

Why Is ether hydrolase activity Important in Cell Biology?

Ether hydrolase activity is important because ether bonds are widespread in bioactive lipids, drugs, and environmental chemicals, and enzymes that cleave them control the lifetime and activity of these molecules. For example, leukotriene A4 hydrolase is a bifunctional enzyme whose aminopeptidase activity can be activated or inhibited by diphenyl ether and diaryl ether compounds, linking ether hydrolase chemistry to inflammatory signaling. Epoxide hydrolases acting on glycidyl ethers are relevant to biocatalysis and chiral synthesis, and their activity can be engineered for improved enantioselectivity. Ether lipid analogs such as glycosylated antitumor ether lipids have anticancer activity, and their mechanism of action involves interactions with cellular hydrolases and membranes. Inhibitors based on ether scaffolds, such as ether analogs of cholesteryl esters, can block retinyl palmitate hydrolase, showing the pharmacological value of targeting this activity. Artificial hydrolases built from aza-crown ether metal complexes further illustrate how ether-based scaffolds can be designed to mimic hydrolytic enzymes.
Ether hydrolase activity controls the breakdown of ether-containing lipids and drugs, influencing their biological half-life and potency.
Leukotriene A4 hydrolase is a key enzyme in inflammation, and its aminopeptidase activity is modulated by ether-containing inhibitors.
Epoxide hydrolases such as PvEH3 act on glycidyl ethers and are important for biocatalysis and chiral building block production.
Ether analogs of cholesteryl esters and acylglycerides inhibit retinyl palmitate hydrolase, linking ether hydrolase activity to retinoid metabolism.
Artificial hydrolases based on aza-crown ether metal complexes provide models for understanding and engineering ether bond cleavage.
Glycosylated antitumor ether lipids show anticancer activity, and their mechanism involves cellular ether lipid processing.
Ether hydrolase activity is relevant to drug discovery because ether-containing compounds are common pharmacophores.
Studying this activity helps annotate enzyme functions in lipid signaling and detoxification pathways.
Ether hydrolases can be engineered for improved catalytic efficiency and enantioselectivity using semi-rational design.
CRISPR-based models enable causal testing of genes annotated with ether hydrolase activity in disease contexts.

Ether hydrolase activity: mechanism, components, and regulation

Substrate recognition and binding
In simple terms: The enzyme first grabs the ether-containing molecule and positions it for cleavage.
Ether hydrolases must recognize substrates that contain an ether bond, such as diaryl ethers, diphenyl ether derivatives, or glycidyl ethers. For leukotriene A4 hydrolase, diphenyl ether and its derivatives can bind to the enzyme and modulate its aminopeptidase activity, indicating that ether-containing compounds can occupy the active site or allosteric pockets. In epoxide hydrolases such as PvEH3, the substrate ortho-cresyl glycidyl ether is bound and oriented for nucleophilic attack, and semi-rational design has been used to improve this recognition. Ether analogs of cholesteryl esters and acylglycerides can inhibit retinyl palmitate hydrolase, suggesting that ether-containing molecules can act as substrate mimics or inhibitors at the active site.
Catalytic cleavage of the ether bond
In simple terms: Once bound, the enzyme uses water to break the ether linkage.
The defining chemical step of GO:0016803 is hydrolysis of the ether bond, -O-, which requires water and a catalytic machinery that can stabilize the transition state. In leukotriene A4 hydrolase, the aminopeptidase activity can be activated or inhibited by diphenyl ether derivatives, showing that the enzyme can process ether-containing substrates or inhibitors. Epoxide hydrolase PvEH3 catalyzes the hydrolysis of ortho-cresyl glycidyl ether, and its catalytic activity and enantioselectivity were significantly improved by semi-rational design, demonstrating that the ether bond cleavage step is tunable. Artificial hydrolases based on aza-crown ether metal complexes can also cleave ether bonds, providing a synthetic model for the catalytic mechanism.
Product release and turnover
In simple terms: After cleavage, the products leave the enzyme so it can act again.
Following hydrolysis, the enzyme releases the cleaved products, which no longer contain the original ether bond. For leukotriene A4 hydrolase, modulation of aminopeptidase activity by diaryl ether compounds affects product formation and turnover. In the case of retinyl palmitate hydrolase, inhibition by ether analogs of cholesteryl esters and acylglycerides reduces product release, indicating that product formation can be blocked by ether-containing inhibitors. Efficient product release is also a target for enzyme engineering, as shown by improved PvEH3 variants that turn over glycidyl ether substrates more effectively.
Protein components and structural features
In simple terms: The enzyme is a protein with a pocket that holds the ether substrate and a catalytic center that splits it.
Ether hydrolases are proteins that contain an active site capable of binding ether-containing substrates and catalyzing bond cleavage. Leukotriene A4 hydrolase is a bifunctional enzyme with both epoxide hydrolase and aminopeptidase activities, and its aminopeptidase site can be targeted by diphenyl ether and diaryl ether compounds. Epoxide hydrolases such as PvEH3 have a catalytic domain that accommodates glycidyl ether substrates, and mutations in this domain can alter activity and enantioselectivity. Artificial hydrolases built from aza-crown ether metal complexes mimic the metal-dependent catalytic centers of natural hydrolases, highlighting the importance of metal ions and ether scaffolds in the active site.
Cofactors and metal dependence
In simple terms: Some ether hydrolases need a metal ion to help break the bond.
Leukotriene A4 hydrolase is a zinc-dependent enzyme, and its aminopeptidase activity can be modulated by ether-containing compounds that interact with the metal center. Artificial hydrolases based on aza-crown ether metal complexes also rely on metal ions for catalytic activity, demonstrating that metal coordination is a common theme in ether bond cleavage. In contrast, epoxide hydrolases such as PvEH3 do not require a metal cofactor but use catalytic residues to activate water for hydrolysis. The diversity of cofactor requirements reflects the broad range of enzymes annotated with ether hydrolase activity.
Regulation of ether hydrolase activity
In simple terms: The activity can be turned up or down by inhibitors, activators, or changes in enzyme levels.
Ether hydrolase activity can be regulated by small molecules that act as inhibitors or activators. Diphenyl ether and its derivatives can activate or inhibit the aminopeptidase activity of leukotriene A4 hydrolase, showing that ether-containing compounds can modulate enzyme function. Diaryl ether modulators have been synthesized and evaluated for their effects on leukotriene A4 hydrolase aminopeptidase activity, providing chemical tools for regulation. Ether analogs of cholesteryl esters and acylglycerides inhibit retinyl palmitate hydrolase, indicating that ether-based inhibitors can block hydrolase activity. Enzyme engineering can also regulate activity, as demonstrated by improved PvEH3 variants with enhanced catalytic activity and enantioselectivity.

Key Genes Involved in GO:0016803 ether hydrolase activity

The following genes and proteins are experimentally linked to ether hydrolase activity or to the metabolism of ether-containing substrates.
GeneMajor RoleResearch Relevance
LTA4HLeukotriene A4 hydrolase; bifunctional epoxide hydrolase and aminopeptidaseTarget of diaryl ether and diphenyl ether modulators; inflammation research
PvEH3Epoxide hydrolase from Phaseolus vulgaris acting on glycidyl ethersModel for semi-rational design of ether hydrolase activity and enantioselectivity
EPHX1Microsomal epoxide hydrolaseRelated to ether and epoxide substrate processing; potential annotation context
EPHX2Soluble epoxide hydrolaseLipid signaling and ether lipid metabolism
CYP4ACytochrome P450 involved in ether lipid metabolismGenerates ether-containing lipid mediators
CYP4FCytochrome P450 family involved in leukotriene and ether lipid metabolismRelated to LTA4H pathway and ether bond chemistry
PPARAPeroxisome proliferator-activated receptor alphaActivated by 14,15-DHET, linking ether lipid metabolism to gene regulation
LRP1LDL receptor-related protein 1Potential receptor for ether lipid carriers; context for lipid uptake
ABCA1Cholesterol efflux transporterRelated to cholesteryl ester and ether analog metabolism
NPC1Niemann-Pick C1 proteinCholesterol and lipid trafficking; context for ether lipid probes
CETPCholesteryl ester transfer proteinInteracts with cholesteryl ester analogs including ether derivatives
PLA2GPhospholipase A2 groupReleases ether lipids from membranes; upstream of ether hydrolase activity
ALOX5Arachidonate 5-lipoxygenaseUpstream of leukotriene A4 production and LTA4H function
ALOX5AP5-lipoxygenase activating proteinSupports leukotriene pathway linked to LTA4H
NLRP3Inflammasome sensorInflammation context where LTA4H and ether modulators may act
CASP1Caspase-1Inflammasome effector; related to inflammation models
IL1BInterleukin-1 betaInflammatory cytokine downstream of inflammasome and LTA4H pathways

How Is ether hydrolase activity Regulated?

Ether hydrolase activity is regulated at multiple levels. Small-molecule modulators such as diphenyl ether and diaryl ether compounds can activate or inhibit leukotriene A4 hydrolase aminopeptidase activity, providing direct chemical regulation. Ether analogs of cholesteryl esters and acylglycerides inhibit retinyl palmitate hydrolase, showing that substrate analogs can block activity. Enzyme engineering can also regulate activity, as demonstrated by PvEH3 variants with improved catalytic activity and enantioselectivity toward glycidyl ethers. In addition, metal ions are required for some ether hydrolases, and aza-crown ether metal complexes can act as artificial hydrolases, indicating that cofactor availability influences activity. Upstream lipid signaling pathways, such as those involving 14,15-DHET and PPAR-alpha, can indirectly affect the availability of ether-containing substrates and thus the functional output of ether hydrolase activity.

ether hydrolase activity and Human Disease

GeneDisease / BiologyPotential Experimental Model
LTA4HInflammation, leukotriene signalingKnockout or point-mutation cell lines to test LTA4H aminopeptidase modulation by diaryl ethers
PvEH3Biocatalysis, chiral synthesisOverexpression of engineered PvEH3 variants for glycidyl ether hydrolysis
PPARALipid signaling, cardiovascular biologyKnock-in reporter cells to monitor PPAR-alpha activation by 14,15-DHET
NLRP3Inflammasome-mediated inflammationKnockout macrophages to test inflammasome activation by toxins and ATP
ABCA1Cholesterol efflux, retinoid metabolismOverexpression or knockout cells to study ether analog effects on lipid transport
Inflammation and leukotriene signaling
Leukotriene A4 hydrolase (LTA4H) is a key enzyme in the leukotriene pathway, and its aminopeptidase activity can be modulated by diphenyl ether and diaryl ether compounds. This links ether hydrolase activity to inflammatory diseases, where LTA4H inhibitors are explored as anti-inflammatory agents. The inflammasome pathway, which responds to toxins and ATP, is a central inflammation mechanism that can intersect with leukotriene signaling. Therefore, experimental models of LTA4H function and its modulation by ether-containing compounds are relevant to inflammatory disease research.
Cancer and antitumor ether lipids
Glycosylated antitumor ether lipids have anticancer activity, and their mechanism of action involves cellular processing of ether lipids. These compounds can interact with hydrolases and membranes, and their activity depends on the presence of ether bonds. Ether hydrolase activity may therefore influence the metabolism and efficacy of antitumor ether lipids, making it a potential target for cancer research. In addition, enzymes such as LTA4H have been studied in cancer contexts, and diaryl ether modulators provide chemical tools to probe their function.
Lipid signaling and metabolic regulation
14,15-Dihydroxyeicosatrienoic acid (14,15-DHET) activates peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-alpha (PPAR-alpha), linking ether lipid metabolism to nuclear receptor signaling. Ether hydrolases can affect the levels of lipid mediators such as 14,15-DHET and related epoxides, thereby influencing PPAR-alpha activity and downstream gene expression. This connection places ether hydrolase activity in the broader context of lipid signaling, metabolic regulation, and cardiovascular biology. Inhibitors based on ether scaffolds, such as ether analogs of cholesteryl esters, can also affect retinyl palmitate hydrolase and retinoid metabolism.
Retinoid metabolism and enzyme inhibition
Retinyl palmitate hydrolase activity is inhibited by ether analogs of cholesteryl esters and acylglycerides, indicating that ether-containing compounds can interfere with retinoid metabolism. This suggests that ether hydrolase activity may play a role in diseases related to vitamin A metabolism and lipid homeostasis. The use of ether analogs as inhibitors provides a chemical approach to study retinyl palmitate hydrolase and related enzymes. Such studies are relevant to understanding how ether bonds are recognized and cleaved in metabolic pathways.

From ether hydrolase activity-Related Genes to Experimental Models

Research QuestionSuitable Model
Does LTA4H ether hydrolase activity modulate inflammation?LTA4H knockout and point-mutation cell lines treated with diaryl ether compounds
Can PvEH3 activity be improved for glycidyl ether hydrolysis?Overexpression of engineered PvEH3 variants in microbial or plant cells
Does 14,15-DHET activate PPAR-alpha in a specific cell type?PPAR-alpha knock-in reporter cells and knockout controls
Do ether analogs inhibit retinyl palmitate hydrolase?Knockout or overexpression of retinyl palmitate hydrolase in liver-derived cells
Can artificial hydrolases cleave ether bonds?Aza-crown ether metal complex catalysts in cell-free or cellular assays
Do glycosylated antitumor ether lipids require specific hydrolases?Knockout cancer cell lines treated with ether lipids

How to Study the ether hydrolase activity Process

MethodWhat It MeasuresTypical Application
Enzyme kineticsCatalytic rate and substrate affinityCharacterizing LTA4H or PvEH3 activity on ether substrates
Inhibitor screeningIC50 and mode of inhibitionTesting diaryl ether and diphenyl ether modulators
Semi-rational designImproved activity and enantioselectivityEngineering PvEH3 variants for glycidyl ether hydrolysis
CRISPR knockoutLoss-of-function phenotypeTesting causal role of LTA4H in inflammation
CRISPR knock-inTagged or mutant enzyme expressionMonitoring localization and activity of ether hydrolases
OverexpressionGain-of-function effectsStudying engineered PvEH3 or antitumor ether lipid targets
LipidomicsEther lipid and metabolite levelsLinking ether hydrolase activity to lipid signaling
MetabolomicsGlobal metabolite changesDetecting 14,15-DHET and PPAR-alpha pathway activation
Enzyme kinetics and inhibitor screening
Ether hydrolase activity can be measured using purified enzymes or cell lysates with ether-containing substrates, such as glycidyl ethers or diaryl ether probes. Kinetic parameters (Km, Vmax, kcat) and inhibition constants (IC50) are determined to evaluate modulators like diphenyl ether derivatives. These assays are essential for characterizing LTA4H aminopeptidase activity and for testing ether analogs as inhibitors.
Semi-rational enzyme design and mutagenesis
Semi-rational design has been used to improve the catalytic activity and enantioselectivity of PvEH3 toward ortho-cresyl glycidyl ether. This approach combines structural knowledge with targeted mutagenesis to generate variants with enhanced ether hydrolase activity. Such methods are applicable to other ether hydrolases where substrate specificity or enantioselectivity needs optimization.
CRISPR-based gene editing and functional genomics
CRISPR knockout, point mutation, and knock-in models enable causal testing of genes annotated with ether hydrolase activity. For example, LTA4H knockout cells can be used to determine whether diaryl ether modulators act specifically through LTA4H. Overexpression of engineered PvEH3 variants allows testing of improved ether hydrolase activity in cellular contexts. These approaches link genotype to phenotype for ether hydrolase-related genes.
Lipidomics and metabolomics
Lipidomics can quantify ether-containing lipids and their hydrolysis products, providing a readout of ether hydrolase activity in cells. Metabolomics approaches can detect changes in 14,15-DHET and related eicosanoids that signal through PPAR-alpha. These methods are useful for studying how ether hydrolase activity affects lipid mediator profiles in disease models.

How CRISPR Can Be Used to Study GO:0016803 ether hydrolase activity

Knockout

CRISPR knockout of genes such as LTA4H can eliminate ether hydrolase activity and reveal its contribution to inflammation and lipid signaling. Knockout models are useful for testing whether diaryl ether modulators require LTA4H for their effects. In cancer research, knockout of candidate ether hydrolases can determine whether glycosylated antitumor ether lipids depend on specific enzymes for their activity.

Point Mutation

Point mutations can be introduced into catalytic residues of ether hydrolases to dissect mechanism and substrate specificity. For example, mutations in PvEH3 can alter activity and enantioselectivity toward glycidyl ethers, providing insights into structure-function relationships. Point-mutation models are also valuable for testing whether specific residues in LTA4H are required for modulation by diphenyl ether compounds.

Knock-in

Knock-in of tagged or reporter versions of ether hydrolases allows real-time monitoring of enzyme expression, localization, and activity. For instance, a fluorescently tagged PvEH3 could be used to track substrate processing in live cells. Knock-in models can also introduce disease-associated variants to study their impact on ether hydrolase activity.

Overexpression

Overexpression of ether hydrolases such as engineered PvEH3 variants enables gain-of-function studies and biocatalytic applications. Overexpression can also be used to amplify ether hydrolase activity in cells to test downstream effects on lipid signaling and PPAR-alpha activation. In cancer research, overexpression of candidate ether hydrolases can reveal whether they enhance or reduce the activity of antitumor ether lipids.

How EDITGENE Supports ether hydrolase activity Research

Researchers studying ether hydrolase activity-related genes often need to determine whether a candidate gene is causally involved in ether bond cleavage, lipid signaling, or disease phenotypes. EDITGENE provides CRISPR-based cell model services that enable precise knockout, point mutation, knock-in, and overexpression of genes such as LTA4H, PvEH3, and related hydrolases. By combining these models with functional assays and bioinformatics, EDITGENE supports publication-ready studies on GO:0016803 and its role in health and disease.
Contact EDITGENE today to design your custom CRISPR model for ether hydrolase activity research.

Frequently Asked Questions About ether hydrolase activity

Ether hydrolase activity (GO:0016803) is a molecular function describing catalysis of the hydrolysis of an ether bond, -O-, as defined by the Gene Ontology.
Genes experimentally linked to this activity include LTA4H (leukotriene A4 hydrolase) and epoxide hydrolases such as PvEH3, along with related lipid-metabolizing enzymes.
The GO ID for ether hydrolase activity is GO:0016803, classified under molecular_function.
It is measured using enzyme kinetics with ether-containing substrates, inhibitor screening, and lipidomics to detect hydrolysis products.
It is linked to inflammation through LTA4H, cancer through antitumor ether lipids, and lipid signaling through PPAR-alpha activation by 14,15-DHET.
Yes, diphenyl ether and diaryl ether compounds can inhibit or activate LTA4H aminopeptidase activity, and ether analogs inhibit retinyl palmitate hydrolase.
LTA4H is a bifunctional enzyme whose aminopeptidase activity can be modulated by ether-containing compounds, linking it to ether hydrolase chemistry.
CRISPR knockout, point mutation, knock-in, and overexpression models allow causal testing of genes such as LTA4H and PvEH3 in ether bond cleavage and disease.
Yes, aza-crown ether metal complexes have been developed as artificial hydrolases that can cleave ether bonds.
Substrates include diaryl ethers, diphenyl ether derivatives, glycidyl ethers such as ortho-cresyl glycidyl ether, and ether analogs of cholesteryl esters.

Conclusion

GO:0016803 ether hydrolase activity defines a chemically important molecular function that cleaves ether bonds in diverse substrates, from leukotriene A4 and glycidyl ethers to ether lipid analogs. Experimental studies have identified key enzymes such as LTA4H and PvEH3, and have shown that this activity can be modulated by ether-containing inhibitors or improved by enzyme engineering. The relevance of ether hydrolase activity spans inflammation, cancer, lipid signaling, and retinoid metabolism, making it a compelling target for both basic and translational research. CRISPR-based cell models and bioinformatics tools from EDITGENE can help researchers dissect the causal roles of ether hydrolase genes and accelerate discoveries in this field.

References

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  2. 2. Fang X et al.. 2006. 14,15-Dihydroxyeicosatrienoic acid activates peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-alpha.. Am J Physiol Heart Circ Physiol 290(1):H55-63 PMID: 16113065
  3. 3. Zhang C et al.. 2020. Significant improvement in catalytic activity and enantioselectivity of a Phaseolus vulgaris epoxide hydrolase, PvEH3, towards ortho-cresyl glycidyl ether based on the semi-rational design.. Sci Rep 10(1):1680 PMID: 32015448
  4. 4. Blaner WS et al.. 1984. Inhibition of rat liver retinyl palmitate hydrolase activity by ether analogs of cholesteryl esters and acylglycerides.. Biochim Biophys Acta 794(3):428-34 PMID: 6743674
  5. 5. Yu L et al.. 2016. Development of the aza-crown ether metal complexes as artificial hydrolase.. J Inorg Biochem 154:89-102 PMID: 26460062
  6. 6. Jiang X et al.. 2008. Activation and inhibition of leukotriene A4 hydrolase aminopeptidase activity by diphenyl ether and derivatives.. Bioorg Med Chem Lett 18(24):6549-52 PMID: 18952425
  7. 7. Mariathasan S et al.. 2006. Cryopyrin activates the inflammasome in response to toxins and ATP.. Nature 440(7081):228-32 PMID: 16407890
  8. 8. Arthur G et al.. 2014. Glycosylated antitumor ether lipids: activity and mechanism of action.. Anticancer Agents Med Chem 14(4):592-606 PMID: 24628233
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