Carbonic anhydrases facilitate the interconversion of water and carbon dioxide with bicarbonate ions and protons (EC 4.2.1.1), with over a dozen gene products identified in man. The enzymes function in acid-base balance and the movement of carbon dioxide and water. They are targetted for therapeutic gain by particular antiglaucoma agents and diuretics.

* Key recommended reading is highlighted with an asterisk

* Alterio V, Di Fiore A, D'Ambrosio K, Supuran CT, De Simone G. (2012) Multiple binding modes of inhibitors to carbonic anhydrases: how to design specific drugs targeting 15 different isoforms?. Chem. Rev., 112 (8): 4421-68. [PMID:22607219]

* Cummins EP, Selfridge AC, Sporn PH, Sznajder JI, Taylor CT. (2014) Carbon dioxide-sensing in organisms and its implications for human disease. Cell. Mol. Life Sci., 71 (5): 831-45. [PMID:24045706]

* Imtaiyaz Hassan M, Shajee B, Waheed A, Ahmad F, Sly WS. (2013) Structure, function and applications of carbonic anhydrase isozymes. Bioorg. Med. Chem., 21 (6): 1570-82. [PMID:22607884]

* Sjöblom M. (2011) Duodenal epithelial sensing of luminal acid: role of carbonic anhydrases. Acta Physiol (Oxf), 201 (1): 85-95. [PMID:20632999]

Supuran CT. (2011) Carbonic anhydrase inhibitors and activators for novel therapeutic applications. Future Med Chem, 3 (9): 1165-80. [PMID:21806379]

1. Avvaru BS, Wagner JM, Maresca A, Scozzafava A, Robbins AH, Supuran CT, McKenna R. (2010) Carbonic anhydrase inhibitors. The X-ray crystal structure of human isoform II in adduct with an adamantyl analogue of acetazolamide resides in a less utilized binding pocket than most hydrophobic inhibitors. Bioorg. Med. Chem. Lett., 20 (15): 4376-81. [PMID:20605094]

2. Sethi KK, Vullo D, Verma SM, Tanç M, Carta F, Supuran CT. (2013) Carbonic anhydrase inhibitors: synthesis and inhibition of the human carbonic anhydrase isoforms I, II, VII, IX and XII with benzene sulfonamides incorporating 4,5,6,7-tetrabromophthalimide moiety. Bioorg. Med. Chem., 21 (19): 5973-82. [PMID:23965175]

3. Temperini C, Cecchi A, Scozzafava A, Supuran CT. (2009) Carbonic anhydrase inhibitors. Comparison of chlorthalidone, indapamide, trichloromethiazide, and furosemide X-ray crystal structures in adducts with isozyme II, when several water molecules make the difference. Bioorg. Med. Chem., 17 (3): 1214-21. [PMID:19119014]

4. Vullo D, Innocenti A, Nishimori I, Pastorek J, Scozzafava A, Pastoreková S, Supuran CT. (2005) Carbonic anhydrase inhibitors. Inhibition of the transmembrane isozyme XII with sulfonamides-a new target for the design of antitumor and antiglaucoma drugs?. Bioorg. Med. Chem. Lett., 15 (4): 963-9. [PMID:15686894]