Comparison of hemocytic carbonic anhydrase activity of bivalves

Abstract

Carbonic anhydrase (CA), which is involved in shell formation processes in bivalves, is one of the major biocatalysts for carbon capture and storage. In this study we investigated CA activity in the total hemocytic proteins of five bivalves. The highest CA activity was observed in Scapharca broughtonii, which had more than twice the activity found in Crassostrea gigas. No CA activity was observed among the total hemocytic proteins of Pinctada fucata and Saxidomus purpuratus. The results suggest that marine invertebrates may provide a better source of CA, as an alternative to mammalian sources.