An α-carbonic anhydrase (CA, EC 4.2.1.1) has been purified from the Antarctic hemoglobinless fish Chionodraco hamatus (icefish). The new enzyme, denominated ChaCA, has a good catalytic activity for the physiologic CO2 hydration to bicarbonate reaction, similar to that of the low activity human isoform hCA I, with a kcat of 5.3×10(5) s(-1), and a kcat/Km of 3.7×10(7) M(-1) s(-1). The enzyme was inhibited in the submillimolar range by most inorganic anions (cyanate, thiocyanate, cyanide, bicarbonate, halides), whereas sulfamide, sulfamate, phenylboronic/phenylarsonic acids were micromolar inhibitors, with KIs in the range of 9-77 μM. Many clinically used drugs, such as acetazolamide, methazolamide, dorzolamide, brinzolamide, topiramate and benzolamide were low nanomolar inhibitors, with KIs in the range of 39.1-77.6 nM. As the physiology of CO2/bicarbonate transport or the Root effect in this Antarctic fish are poorly understood at this moment, such inhibition data may give a more detailed insight in the role that CAs play in these phenomena, by the use of inhibitors described here as physiologic tools.
Keywords: Anion; Carbonic anhydrase; Chionodraco hamatus; Sulfonamide.
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