Q.Which mineral is necessary to activate the enzyme carbonic anhydrase?
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Start your 14-day free trial to unlock the full solution →Carbonic anhydrase is a zinc-dependent (Zn2+-activated) enzyme.
Many plant enzymes require a specific mineral element (usually a trace/micronutrient) bound at or near their active site to be catalytically active — this is one of the main physiological roles of micronutrients in mineral nutrition.
Carbonic anhydrase catalyses the reversible reaction CO2 + H2O ⇌ H2CO3 ⇌ H+ + HCO3-. It is a well-known zinc metalloenzyme: a Zn2+ ion held in the active site polarises a water molecule, which then attacks CO2 — this is essential for its catalytic mechanism. Without zinc, the enzyme cannot function, which is one reason zinc deficiency in plants affects processes like photosynthesis and CO2 exchange.
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