Explanation
Esterases belong to the category of hydrolases.
Hydrolases are enzymes that catalyze the hydrolysis of various chemical bonds using water as a substrate. In the case of esterases, they specifically catalyze the hydrolysis of ester bonds, which are covalent bonds between a carboxylic acid and an alcohol.
Therefore, option D (Hydrolases) is the correct category for esterases.
Option A (Lyases) catalyze the cleavage of C-C, C-O, and C-N bonds through non-hydrolytic mechanisms.
Option B (Ligases) catalyze the formation of new covalent bonds between two substrates, often using energy from ATP hydrolysis.
Option C (Transferases) catalyze the transfer of a functional group from one molecule to another.
