Recombinant Human Carbonic Anhydrase VA Protein, CF

Carbonic Anhydrase 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. Carbonic Anhydrase VA encoded by the CA5A gene is a mitochondrial protein (2, 3). In comparison with another mitochondrial CA (CA5B), CA5A has different tissue distribution and chromosomal location (4, 5). Expression and inhibitor studies of different CAs in the rat pancreatic beta cells indicate that CA5A may be involved in the regulation of insulin secretion (6). CA5A may also participate in the detoxification of ammonia produced in the gastrointestinal tract by providing bicarbonate to carbamyl phosphate synthetase I (7). The amino acid sequence of recombinant human CA5A (residues 40 to 305) is 79%, 77%, and 76% identical to that of canine, bovine, and rat/mouse.