Cocaine esterase (CocE) is from a Rhodococcus strain that lives in the soil of the cocaine producing plant Erythroxylum coca, which is able to use cocaine as its sole carbon and nitrogen source for growth.
CocE hydrolyses cocaine to benzoate and ecgonine methyl ester. Also efficiently hydrolyses cocaethylene, a more potent cocaine metabolite that has been observed in patients who concurrently abuse cocaine and alcohol. Is able to prevent cocaine-induced convulsions and lethality in rat. Hence, CocE is of interest as a cocaine antagonist in acute overdose cases.
CocE belongs to the alpha/beta hydrolase fold superfamily, specifically the CocE/Serine esterase Family. The amino acid sequence of cocaine esterase has a region of similarity with the active serine consensus of X-prolyl dipeptidyl aminopeptidases, suggesting that the cocaine esterase is a serine esterase.
Defined by 6 residues: TYR:A-44SER:A-117TYR:A-118TRP:A-166ASP:A-259HIS:A-287