Abstract: Esterases (Esterases, EC 3.1.1.X) is a general term for enzymes that catalyze the hydrolysis and synthesis of ester bonds and has been widely used in the field of biocatalysis. In industrial production and application, esterases from the mesophilic microorganisms are unstable and easily lose their activity in environments, such as high temperature, high pressure and organic reagents however, thermophilic esterase, because of its origin, has unique advantages in heat resistance, organic reagents and catalytic rate and so on. In recent years, thermophilic esterase has become the focus of biological catalysis research. This paper firstly analyzed the various sources of thermophilic esterase, expounded the heat resistant mechanisms of thermophilic esterase, discussed its immobilization methods, and then the main application and research progress were summarized, and the shortage in the contemporary study of thermophilic esterase and the development trend of the future was pointed out .

Key words: thermophilic esterase, esterase, immobilization