Carbonic Anhydrase VIII/CA8 Antibody

Carbonic Anhydrase (CA) catalyzes the reversible reaction of CO₂ + H₂O = HCO₃^- + H⁺, which is fundamental to many processes such as respiration, renal tubular acidification and bone resorption (1). Topics in a CA meeting (6^th International Conference on the CAs, June 20‑25, 2003, Slovakia) ranged from the use of CAs as markers for tumor and hypoxia in the clinic, as a nutritional supplement in milk, and as a tool for CO₂ removal and mosquito control in industry. CA8, also called CA‑related protein (CARP), is a cytosolic protein without CA activity (i.e., the reversible hydration of CO₂) due to point mutations in the zinc-binding site (2). Nevertheless, it has esterase activity described in the Activity Assay Protocol. CA8 is expressed exclusively in Purkinje cells of the cerebellum, where it binds inositol 1,4,5‑triphosphate receptor type 1 (3). CA8 overexpression in human colorectal cancer and non-small cell lung cancer indicates that it plays a role in the process of invasion in these types of malignancy (4, 5).