Carbonic anhydrase (CA, EC4.2.1.1) is a metalloenzyme with Zn2+ as the active center, which can
-
efficiently catalyze the reversible hydration reaction of CO2: CO2+H2O ⇋HCO +H+ at a rate 107 times
3
higher than that under natural conditions, which is one of the fastest known enzymes. It is one of the fastest
known enzymes.
Carbonic anhydrase can catalyze the reaction of p-nitrophenyl acetate to form p-nitrophenol, and the
rate of increase of absorbance value at 405 nm reflects the activity of carbonic anhydrase.
Reagents and Equipment Required but Not Provided:
Spectrophotometer, centrifuge, water bath/incubator, adjustable pipette, 1mL glass cuvette,
mortar/homogenizer/cell sonicator, ice and distilled water.