• The primary function of the enzyme carbonic anhydrase is to dramatically increase the rate of this reaction. Without the enzyme, the process of carbon dioxide transport in the blood would be far too slow to meet the physiological needs of the body.

• Carbonic anhydrase is one of the fastest known enzymes. It can accelerate the reaction rate by a factor of about 10 million times, leading to the formation of approximately 600,000 molecules of carbonic acid per second. Without the enzyme the rate of carbonic acid formation is very slow i.e., 200 molecules per hour.

• Carbonic anhydrase is found in the cytoplasm of various cells, most notably red blood cells (erythrocytes), where it plays a crucial role in the transport of carbon dioxide from tissues to the lungs.