The role of carbonic anhydrase enzyme in the biocalcification process of coral and its resilience to global climate change

Here we report that the organic substances that participate in calcification in coral skeletons contain a carbonic anhydrase (CA) enzyme which is a biological catalyst responsible for the interconversion of CO₂ and bicarbonate. The effect of CA on the hydration of CO₂, and its precipitation in the form of calcium carbonate, was studied. The precipitation of calcium carbonate was promoted in the presence of the enzyme. However, we find that the CA acts as “keys” to control internal physiological condition of the body of corals via calcification and to enable a response to external environmental change. Therefore, the CA enzyme is considered to be key biomolecule to understand calcification mechanisms and global climate change.