carbonic anhydrase

American  

[an-hahy-dreys, -dreyz] / ænˈhaɪ dreɪs, -dreɪz /

noun

Biochemistry.

1. an enzyme that catalyzes the reversible combination of carbon dioxide with water in red blood cells.

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carbonic anhydrase British  

noun

1. an enzyme in blood cells that catalyses the decomposition of carbonic acid into carbon dioxide and water, facilitating the transport of carbon dioxide from the tissues to the lungs

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Etymology

Origin of carbonic anhydrase

First recorded in 1835–45; anhydr- + -ase

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

carbonic anhydrase

By embedding a helper enzyme, carbonic anhydrase, into a porous titania structure, the researchers enabled the system to work in a simple bicarbonate solution — similar to sparkling water — without unsustainable additives.

From Science Daily ● Nov. 2, 2025

Bicarbonate is created by a chemical reaction that occurs mostly in erythrocytes, joining carbon dioxide and water by carbonic anhydrase, producing carbonic acid, which breaks down into bicarbonate and hydrogen ions.

From Textbooks ● Jun. 19, 2013

In red blood cells, carbonic anhydrase forces the dissociation of the acid, rendering the blood less acidic.

From Textbooks ● Jun. 19, 2013

At the pulmonary capillaries, bicarbonate re-enters erythrocytes in exchange for chloride ions, and the reaction with carbonic anhydrase is reversed, recreating carbon dioxide and water.

From Textbooks ● Jun. 19, 2013

The gas diffuses into the renal cells where carbonic anhydrase catalyzes its conversion back into a bicarbonate ion, which enters the blood.

From Textbooks ● Jun. 19, 2013