Identification and inhibition of carbonic anhydrases from nematodes

Carbonic anhydrases (CAs) are metalloenzymes, and classified into the evolutionarily distinct alpha, beta, gamma, delta, and eta classes. alpha-CAs are present in many living organisms. beta- and gamma-CAs are expressed in most prokaryotes and eukaryotes, except for vertebrates. delta- and zeta-CAs are present in phytoplanktons, and eta-CAs have been found in Plasmodium spp. Since the identification of alpha- and beta-CAs in Caenorhabditis elegans, the nematode CAs have been considered as an emerging target in research focused on antiparasitic CA inhibitors. Despite the presence of alpha-CAs in both helminths and vertebrates, structural studies have revealed different kinetic and inhibition results. Moreover, lack of beta-CAs in vertebrates makes this enzyme as an attractive target for inhibitory studies against helminthic infection. Some CA inhibitors, such as sulfonamides, have been evaluated against nematode CAs. This review article aims to present comprehensive information about the nematode CAs and their inhibitors as potential anthelminthic drugs.