Carbonic anhydrase XIV.

The carbonic anhydrase (CA) family comprises several isozymes with distinct cellular localizations and physiological functions. In mammals, sixteen different CA isozymes have been characterized to date, while additional isoforms have been identified in non-mammalian vertebrate species. Carbonic Anhydrase XIV (CA XIV) belongs to the membrane-associated subgroup of CAs. This chapter provides an overview of the biochemical and structural features of this enzyme, highlighting its functional properties and physiological significance. Particular attention is devoted to the mechanisms regulating its enzymatic activity and the relevance of CA XIV in health and disease, emphasizing its emerging importance as a potential therapeutic target and its broader implications in drug discovery. Although the inhibitory properties of CA XIV have been extensively investigated, the development of highly selective inhibitors for this isozyme is still an evolving field of research.