Esterase that can hydrolyze short-chain esters with the carbon chain containing 2 to 10 carbon atoms. Does not have lipase activity. Is highly immunogenic and elicits strong humoral immune responses in both HIV-negative (HIV-) and HIV-positive (HIV+) tuberculosis (TB) patients. Also elicits pro-inflammatory cytokine and chemokine responses from macrophages and pulmonary epithelial cells (PubMed:22038913). May participate in the progression of active tuberculosis both by contributing to the utilization of lipid substrates for bacterial growth and replication, and by modulating immune responses (PubMed:22038913). a fatty acid ester + H2O = a fatty acid + an aliphatic alcohol + H(+) a butanoate ester + H2O = an aliphatic alcohol + butanoate + H(+) a hexanoate ester + H2O = an aliphatic alcohol + H(+) + hexanoate an acetyl ester + H2O = acetate + an aliphatic alcohol + H(+) an octanoate ester + H2O = an aliphatic alcohol + H(+) + octanoate decanoate ester + H2O = an aliphatic alcohol + decanoate + H(+) Cell surface protein that is present in both the cell wall and the capsule. Expressed only during active M.tuberculosis infection. Belongs to the 'GDXG' lipolytic enzyme family.