Secreted Carbonic Anhydrase Isoenzyme VI

Secreted carbonic anhydrase isoenzyme VI (CA VI) was the only secretory isoenzyme among the 16 α-carbonic anhydrase isoforms in mammals, secreted by various glands including mammary, parotid, and submandibular. It was also found in the oral mucosa, serum, hair follicle, and other tissues. CA VI had moderate catalytic activity suitable for neutralizing pH in secretory fluids and activated calmodulin-dependent cAMP phosphodiesterase. It was proposed to act as a growth factor in taste receptor cells and the small intestine. Studies on CA VI–deficient mice linked CA VI to numerous biological processes.