EC 4.2.1.1

The Uses of EC 4.2.1.1

Carbonic anhydrase from human erythrocytes (HCA) has been used to study the molten-globule state of carbonic anhydrase (CA). Chaperone-like α-crystallin binds to this state of the enzyme and prevents its aggregation. The enzyme from sigma has been used for the analysis of thermodynamic stability of the enzyme. Furthermore, its clinical significance has been evaluated in human non-small cell lung cancer.

The Uses of EC 4.2.1.1

Gel filtration molecular weight marker

The Uses of EC 4.2.1.1

Carbonic anhydrase, from bovine erythrocytes, is used to create carbon dioxide capture systems and to research various purification techniques . Carbonic anhydrase is also used to study acid-base regulation in fish and carbonic anhydrase type II deficiency syndrome .

General Description

Carbonic Anhydrase is a metalloenzyme?with zinc. The active site of carbonic anhydrase contains three conserved histidine residues (His94, His96 and His119).

Biochem/physiol Actions

Carbonic anhydrase is essential for the reversible hydration of carbon dioxide. It is also crucial for the physiological processes including respiration, ion transport, acid–base balance, lipid and carbohydrate metabolic pathways. Carbonic anhydrase participates in electrolyte secretion and in the carbon dioxide fixation.

Purification Methods

Purify carbonic anhydrase by hydroxylapatite and DEAE-cellulose chromatography [Tiselius et al. Arch Biochem Biophys 65 132 1956, Biochim Biophys Acta 39 218 1960], and is then dialysed for crystallisation. A 0.5 to 1% solution of the enzyme in 0.05 M Tris-HCl pH 8.5 is dialysed against 1.75M solution of (NH4)2SO4 in the same buffer, and this solution is slowly increased in salt concentration by periodic removal of small amounts of dialysate and replacing with an equal volume of 3.5M (NH4)2SO4. The final salt concentration, in which the DEAE-cellulose fractions give beautiful birefringent suspensions of crystals, ranged from 2.4 to 2.7M and appeared first as fine crystals, then underwent transition to thin fragile plates. Carbonic anhydrase is a Zn enzyme which exists as several isoenzymes of varying degrees of activity [J Biol Chem 243 6474 1968, crystal structure: Nature, New Biology 235 131 1972; see also P.D. Boyer Ed. The Enzymes Academic Press NY, pp 587-665 1971].