Structure and catalytic mechanism of β-carbonic anhydrases

Abstract

The β-carbonic anhydrases (β-CAs) are a structurally distinct family of carbonic anhydrase that is widely distributed in microorganisms, algae, plants, and invertebrates. Like all carbonic anhydrases, β-CAs catalyze the reaction CO2+H2O↔HCO3 - +H +, and is typically associated with other enzymes that produce or utilize CO 2 or HCO 3 -. β-CA is required for normal growth for many organisms. Unique among the five different families of carbonic anhydrases, β-CA is the only family of carbonic anhydrase to exhibit allostery. This chapter summarizes the structure, catalytic mechanism, and allosteric regulation of “β-CA.