CA12

CA12

A gene on chromosome 15q22 that encodes a carbonic anhydrase, a zinc metalloenzyme that catalyses the reversible hydration of carbon dioxide. Carbonic anhydrases participate various biological processes, including respiration, calcification, maintaining acid-base balance, bone resorption and producing aqueous humour, cerebrospinal fluid, saliva and gastric acid. The CA12 product is a type-I membrane protein which is highly expressed in normal tissues, such as kidney, colon and pancreas.
Molecular pathology
CA12 is overexpressed in 10% of clear cell carcinomas of the kidney.