Carbonic anhydrase is a ubiquitous metalloenzyme, which catalyzes the reversible hydration of CO₂ to HCO₃(-) and H⁺. Metals play a key role in the bioactivity of this metalloenzyme, although their relationships with CA have not been completely clarified to date. The aim of this review is to explore the complexity and multi-aspect nature of these relationships, since metals can be cofactors of CA, but also inhibitors of CA activity and modulators of CA expression. Moreover, this work analyzes new insights and perspectives that allow translating new advances in basic science on the interaction between CA and metals to applications in several fields of research, ranging from biotechnology to environmental sciences.
Keywords: bioassay; biomarker; carbonic anhydrase; expression; inhibition; metals.