Summary
Carbonic anhydrase, an enzyme which catalyzes the reversible hydration of CO2, is a major protein component of most photosynthetic microorganisms and higher plant tissues. Once thought to be represented in plants by a single enzyme type, it is now apparent that DNA sequences and/or the encoded proteins for the evolutionarily distinct α, β and γ forms of carbonic anhydrase are present in cyanobacteria, green algae, and higher plants. While exhibiting a wide range in structure, localization, and regulation of expression, some progress has been made in the establishment of roles for these various enzyme forms. It would appear that the primary role of many of the α and β isoforms is the establishment of inorganic carbon species equilibration. As a result of this activity, enzymes or transport systems which require either CO2 or HCO −3 are not limited by the slow, uncatalyzed rate of CO2/HCO −3 interconversion. In contrast, little is known about patterns of expression or role(s) for γ isoforms. Recent studies on carbonic anhydrase described in this chapter include the isolation and characterization of new isoforms, the generation and phenotypic description of carbonic anhydrase mutants, as well as elucidation of mechanisms responsible for regulation of expression.
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Abbreviations
- CA:
-
carbonic anhydrase
- CCMs:
-
CO2 concentrating mechanisms
- C1:
-
inorganic carbon
- PEP:
-
phosphoenolpyruvate
- Rubisco:
-
ribulose-1,5-bisphosphate carboxylase/oxygenase
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Coleman, J.R. (2000). Carbonic Anhydrase and Its Role in Photosynthesis. In: Leegood, R.C., Sharkey, T.D., von Caemmerer, S. (eds) Photosynthesis. Advances in Photosynthesis and Respiration, vol 9. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/0-306-48137-5_15
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