Biochem/physiol Actions
Carbonic anhydrase is a zinc metalloenzyme that catalyzes the hydration of carbon dioxide to carbonic acid. It is involved in vital physiological and pathological processes such as pH and CO2 homeostasis, transport of bicarbonate and CO2, biosynthetic reactions, bone resorption, calcification, and tumorigenicity. It is required for renal acidification. Its absence can lead to osteoporosis, renal tubular acidosis, and cerebral calcification. Therefore, this enzyme is an important target for inhibitors with clinical applications in glaucoma, epilepsy and Parkinson′s disease. In addition, it is being explored as a potential target for obesity and cancer. CAII has a molecular mass of approximately 30 kDa and is primarily present in type II pneumocytes. Due to this unique location it has been speculated that CAII is involved in pulmonary functions such as regulation of fluid secretion and facilitation of CO2 elimation. Sulfonamides, sulfamates and sulfamides are potent inhibitors of CA.
