Carbonic Anhydrases

Carbonic anhydrases (EC 4.2.1.1) are zinc-containing enzymes belonging to the lyases family, and are primarily responsible for catalyzing the reversible hydration of carbon dioxide to form bicarbonate (HCO₃^-) and hydrogen (H⁺) ions.

There are several different carbonic anhydrase isoforms; these can be broadly grouped into cytosolic (CA I, CA II, CA III, CA VII, CA XIII), mitochondrial (CA VA, CA VB), secreted (CA VI) and membrane-associated (CA IV, CA IX, CA XII, CA XIV) carbonic anhydrases. The functions of the remaining carbonic anhydrases are yet to be elucidated.

Expression of the membrane-bound carbonic anhydrase, CA IX, has been reported in hypoxic tumors where its activity is linked to promoting survival of tumor cells and aiding cancer progression. This is thought to occur through the carbonic anhydrase-mediated production of bicarbonate ions, which neutralizes the abnormally acidic pH of the extracellular environment induced during hypoxia. Furthermore, as CA IX is a hypoxia- and HIF-1-inducible enzyme, its expression can be used as a biomarker for hypoxic tumors.

External sources of pharmacological information for Carbonic Anhydrases :

• BJP Guide

Literature for Carbonic Anhydrases

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Cancer Metabolism Research Product Guide

This product guide reviews some of the main areas in cancer metabolism research and lists around 150 products that can be used to investigate metabolic pathways in cancer including:

• Glycolysis
• Tricarboxylic Acid Cycle
• Lipidogenesis
• 1C Metabolism and Nucleic Acid Synthesis
• Drivers of Metabolic Reprogramming
• pH and Redox Balance
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Carbonic anhydrase Gene Data