CARBONIC ANHYDRASE IN COMPLEX RELATION WITH METALS AND ITS APPLICATION AS POLLUTION BIOMARKER.
Sikander Ali*, Bariya Ashfaq, Fatima Gurmani and Laraib Mukhtar
ABSTRACT
Carbonic anhydrase constitute few unrelated classes of metallo-enzymes mainly responsible for the conversion of carbon dioxide to bicarbonate and hydrogen ionic moieties by reversible hydration. The resulting molecules are important metabolic pathway molecules. This enzyme plays important physiological functions in archaea, bacteria and in mammals. Metals interact with carbonic anhydrase by acting as cofactors for the carbonic anhydrase active site and sometimes as inhibitors of the enzyme. Metal ions can displace the native cofactor molecules from enzyme moiety and the expression level of carbonic anhydrase protein is affected by the metal ion concentrations in the surrounding. Complex relations between carbonic anhydrase and metal ions provide the application of CA as metallo-variants and pollution biomarkers. Carbonic anhydrase as pollution biomarkers are being applied for bio-monitoring in bioassays and in biosensors. Electrometric method is one of the major techniques extensively applied in bio-monitoring. Carbonic anhydrases are introduced in bio-indicator organisms when utilized as a pollution biomarker.
Keywords: Metallo-enzyme, reversible hydration, pollution biomarker, bio-monitoring.
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