Carbonic anhydrase 3 (CA3), also known as Car3. is a member of the carbonic anhydrase enzyme family that catalyzes the reversible hydration of carbon dioxide to bicarbonate and protons. Primarily expressed in skeletal muscle, liver, and gastrointestinal tissues, CA3 plays roles in pH regulation, ion transport, and metabolic processes. Unlike other isoforms (e.g., CA2 or CA9), CA3 exhibits lower catalytic activity but has unique structural features, including a reactive cysteine residue, making it susceptible to oxidative modifications.
CA3 antibodies are immunological tools used to detect and study this isoform in research and diagnostics. They are applied in techniques like Western blotting, immunohistochemistry, and ELISA to investigate CA3 expression patterns in health and disease. Elevated CA3 levels have been linked to conditions such as rheumatoid arthritis, muscle damage, and certain cancers (e.g., hepatocellular carcinoma), where it may serve as a biomarker. In muscle disorders, CA3 release into serum indicates myofiber injury. Additionally, CA3's interaction with oxidative stress pathways has drawn interest in studying metabolic and degenerative diseases.
Despite its lower enzymatic activity, CA3's tissue-specific expression and redox sensitivity make it a focus for understanding disease mechanisms and developing targeted therapies. CA3 antibodies thus remain vital for exploring its biological and clinical significance.