Plant carbonic anhydrases, their role in stress defense and possible practical use

The review presents data on the distribution of carbonic anhydrases in photosynthetic organisms and their location in cellular compartments. The functions of carbonic anhydrases to provide a high photosynthesis rate as well as their participation in processes that are not directly related to photosynthesis, in particular in the transmission of signals to activate cascade of protective response genes are discussed. The results indicating the change in the activity and content of carbonic anhydrases in response to changes in the environmental conditions are given. Вasing on own experimental studies, we propose the mechanisms of participation of the carbonic anhydrases of the higher plant chloroplast thylakoids in the protection of photosynthetic apparatus from excessive light. The possibilities of using the carbonic anhydrase mutants for practical purposes in agriculture, and as well of apply of carbonic anhydrases to bind the excessive CO2 in the air are pointed out.