Description
Carbonic anhydrase (carbonate dehydratase) catalyzes the following reaction: CO2 + H2O ------> H2CO3
The enzyme is widespread in nature. In animals it plays an important role in respiration by facilitating the transport of carbon dioxide. In plants, carbonic anhydrases are involved in the photosynthetic fixation of CO2.
Mammalian erythrocytes contain two distinct forms of carbonic anhydrase distinguished by differences in their catalytic activities. The enzyme requires zinc for its activity and it has a molecular weight of 30,000.
Abbr
Carbonic Anhydrase, Native (Human)
Enzyme Commission Number
EC 4.2.1.1
Activity
2000 U/mg protein
Synonyms
carbonic anhydrases; carbonate dehydratases; EC 4.2.1.1; anhydrase; carbonate anhydrase; carbonic acid anhydrase; carboxyanhydrase; carbonic anhydrase A; carbonate hydro-lyase
Solubility
Distilled water or dilute buffer