InterPro domain: IPR023561

Carbonic anhydrases (CA: 4.2.1.1 ) are zinc metalloenzymes which catalyse the reversible hydration of carbon dioxide to bicarbonate [ 1 , 2 ]. The alpha-CAs are found predominantly in animals but also in bacteria and green algae. There are at least 15 isoforms found in mammals, which can be subdivided into cytosolic CAs (CA-I, CA-II, CA-III, CA-VII and CA XIII), mitochondrial CAs (CA-VA and CA-VB), secreted CAs (CA-VI), membrane-associated (CA-IV, CA-IX, CA-XII and CA-XIV) and those without CA activity, the CA-related proteins (CA-RP VIII, X and XI).

1. Carbonic anhydrases--an overview. Curr. Pharm. Des. 14, 603-14
2. Prokaryotic carbonic anhydrases. FEMS Microbiol. Rev. 24, 335-66