Feruloyl esterase (FAE, EC 3.1.1.73), also known as cinnamoyl esterase or cinnamic acid hydrolase, is an extracellular carboxylic acid esterase. It primarily degrades the ester bonds between arabinose, galactose, or hydroxycinnamic acid in cell wall polysaccharides or pectin.
Feruloyl esterase (FAE) catalyzes the decomposition of the substrate methyl ferulate. The enzyme activity is determined by measuring the rate of decrease in methyl ferulate at 340 nm.
Reaction equation: feruloyl-polysaccharide + H₂O → ferulate + polysaccharide.