This family consists of several plant specific Chlorophyllase proteins (EC:3.1.1.14). Chlorophyllase (Chlase) is the first enzyme involved in chlorophyll (Chl) degradation and catalyses the hydrolysis of ester bond to yield chlorophyllide and phytol [1].

1: Cloning of chlorophyllase, the key enzyme in chlorophyll degradation: finding of a lipase motif and the induction by methyl jasmonate. Tsuchiya T, Ohta H, Okawa K, Iwamatsu A, Shimada H, Masuda T, Takamiya K; Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 1999;96:15362-15367. PMID:10611389

2: Chlorophyllase as a serine hydrolase: identification of a putative catalytic triad. Tsuchiya T, Suzuki T, Yamada T, Shimada H, Masuda T, Ohta H, Takamiya K; Plant Cell Physiol 2003;44:96-101. PMID:12552153