Carbonic anhydrase 6 is an
enzyme
Enzymes () are proteins that act as biological catalysts by accelerating chemical reactions. The molecules upon which enzymes may act are called substrates, and the enzyme converts the substrates into different molecules known as products ...
that in humans is encoded by the ''CA6''
gene
In biology, the word gene (from , ; "... Wilhelm Johannsen coined the word gene to describe the Mendelian units of heredity..." meaning ''generation'' or ''birth'' or ''gender'') can have several different meanings. The Mendelian gene is a b ...
.
It is also called 'gustin' because of its presence in saliva, and lower-than-normal levels of salivary zinc in individuals with
hypogeusia
Hypogeusia is a reduced ability to taste things (to taste sweet, sour, bitter, or salty substances). The complete lack of taste is referred to as ageusia.
Causes of hypogeusia include the chemotherapy drug bleomycin
-13- (1''H''-imidazol-5-yl)me ...
.
Function
The protein encoded by this gene is one of several
isozymes In biochemistry, isozymes (also known as isoenzymes or more generally as multiple forms of enzymes) are enzymes that differ in amino acid sequence but catalyze the same chemical reaction. Isozymes usually have different kinetic parameters (e.g. dif ...
of
carbonic anhydrase. This protein is abundantly found in salivary glands and
saliva and protein may play a role in the reversible hydratation of carbon dioxide, though its function in saliva is unknown.
It has been suggested that CA VI participates in the maintenance of appropriate pH homeostasis on tooth surfaces as well as in the mucosa of the gastrointestinal canal.
References
Further reading
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