Abstract

BETA CARBONIC ANHYDRASE (?-CA)

Dr. M. P. Toraskar* and Santoshi T. Gaulkar

ABSTRACT

Carbonic anhydrases (CAs) are zinc containing metalloenzymes which catalyze the reversible hydration/dehydration of carbon dioxide/bicarbonate and are involved in various physiological and pathological processes, including gluconeogenesis, lipogenesis, ureagenesis, tumorigenicity, growth and virulence of various pathogens. CAs are encoded by five unrelated gene families like α-CA, β-CA, γ-CA, δ-CA, δ-CA. The CAs have been extensively studied because of their broad physiological importance in all kingdoms of life and clinical relevance as drug targets. It has recently discovered that β-CA inhibitors could have potential as novel anti-infective drug. This article explores in detail about β-CA from different organism; their function, inhibition by various sulphonamide derivatives, possible current and future application.

Keywords: Carbonic anhydrases, physiological/pathological processes, mechanism, metalloenzyme, beta carbonic anhydrase.