Catalyzes the hydrolysis of cutin, a polyester that forms the structure of plant cuticle (PubMed:22194294). Shows esterase activity towards p-nitrophenol-linked aliphatic esters (pNP-aliphatic esters), with a preference for short-chain substrates (C4 substrate at most) (PubMed:22194294, PubMed:24593046). Cannot hydrolyze olive oil (PubMed:22194294). Is also able to degrade poly(ethylene terephthalate), the most abundant polyester plastic in the world (PubMed:22194294, PubMed:32269349). Can also depolymerize poly(epsilon-caprolactone) (PCL), a synthetic aliphatic biodegradable polyester (PubMed:22194294). cutin + H2O = cutin monomers. (ethylene terephthalate)(n) + H2O = (ethylene terephthalate)(n-1) + 4-[(2-hydroxyethoxy)carbonyl]benzoate + H(+) 4-[(2-hydroxyethoxy)carbonyl]benzoate + H2O = ethylene glycol + H(+) + terephthalate an acetyl ester + H2O = acetate + an aliphatic alcohol + H(+) a butanoate ester + H2O = an aliphatic alcohol + butanoate + H(+) a hexanoate ester + H2O = an aliphatic alcohol + H(+) + hexanoate an octanoate ester + H2O = an aliphatic alcohol + H(+) + octanoate Is inhibited in vitro by diethyl pNP-phosphate (E600), but not by EDTA. kcat is 232 sec(-1) with pNP-butanoate as substrate (at 30 degrees Celsius and pH 8.0). kcat is 343 sec(-1) with pNP-butanoate as substrate (at 50 degrees Celsius and pH 8.0). kcat is 318 sec(-1) with pNP-butanoate as substrate (at 70 degrees Celsius and pH 8.0). Optimum pH is 8.5 with pNP-butyrate as substrate. Shows 70% of the maximal activity at pH 7.0 and pH 9.5. Optimum temperature is 50 degrees Celsius with pNP-butanoate as substrate (PubMed:22194294, PubMed:24593046). Optimum temperature using PET as substrate is superior to 70 degrees Celsius (PubMed:22194294). Shows 70% of the maximal activity at 30 and 70 degrees Celsius with pNP-butyrate as substrate. Has half-lives of 5 hours at 50 degrees Celsius, 80 minutes at 60 degrees Celsius, 40 minutes at 70 degrees Celsius and 7 minutes at 80 degrees Celsius (PubMed:22194294). Is thermostable, with a determined melting temperature (Tm) of 84.7 degrees Celsius (PubMed:32269349). The disulfide bond between Cys-275 and Cys-292 contributes not only to the thermodynamic stability but also to the kinetic stability of the enzyme. The engineered enzyme with mutations Ile-243/Cys-238/Cys-283/Gly-127 can hydrolyze PET in a highly efficient way, ultimately achieving, in less than 10 hours, a minimum of 90 per cent PET depolymerization into monomers, with a productivity of 16.7 grams of terephthalate per liter per hour. It was also shown that biologically recycled PET produced from enzymatically depolymerized PET waste exhibits the same properties as petrochemical PET, before being processed into bottles, thereby contributing towards the concept of a circular PET economy. The gene encoding this enzyme comes from a leaf-branch compost metagenome. The source organism remains to be identified. However, it is presumably a thermophilic bacterium. Belongs to the AB hydrolase superfamily.