Carbonic anhydrases (CAs; carbonate dehydratase; carbonate hydrolyase; EC 4.2.1.1 ) form a large family of genes
encoding zinc metalloenzymes of great physiologic importance. As catalysts of the reversible hydration of carbon
dioxide, these enzymes participate in a variety of biologic processes, including respiration, calcification, acid-base
balance, bone resorption, and the formation of aqueous humor, cerebrospinal fluid, saliva, and gastric acid. In cells, they may reside in cytoplasm, in mitochondria,
or in secretory granules, or associate with membranes.
Wade et al. (1986) identified a CA3 mRNA transcript from an adult human muscle cDNA library and
presented the complete nucleotide sequence of the cDNA clone.
NCBI Summary:
Carbonic anhydrase III (CAIII) is a member of a multigene family (at least six separate genes are known) that encode carbonic anhydrase isozymes. These carbonic anhydrases are a class of metalloenzymes that catalyze the reversible hydration of carbon dioxide and are differentially expressed in a number of cell types. The expression of the CA3 gene is strictly tissue specific and present at high levels in skeletal muscle and much lower levels in cardiac and smooth muscle. A proportion of carriers of Duchenne muscle dystrophy have a higher CA3 level than normal. The gene spans 10.3 kb and contains seven exons and six introns.
General function
Metabolism, Enzyme, Oxidoreductase
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Cellular localization
Plasma membrane, Mitochondrial
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Ovarian function
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Expression regulated by
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Ovarian localization
Theca, Follicular Fluid
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Friedley NJ, et al. found carbonic anhydrase activity in the mammalian ovary, fallopian tube, and uterus using histochemical and
biochemical studies. Kuryl J. found carbonic anhydrase activity in the membrane and contents of the ovarian follicles and oviduct
mucosa of hens.
Ge et al reported that, in the mouse
and rat ovary, immunostaining evidenced CA III in theca interna cells where the enzyme could affect the pH of follicular fluid. Ali Akbar S, et al. found carbonic anhydrase isoenzymes CAI and CAII in follicular fluids.