Progress in the development of human carbonic anhydrase inhibitors and their pharmacological applications: Where are we today?

Carbonic anhydrases (CAs, EC 4.2.1.1) are widely distributed metalloenzymes in both prokaryotes and eukaryotes. They efficiently catalyze the reversible hydration of carbon dioxide to bicarbonate and H+ ions and play a crucial role in regulating many physiological processes. CAs are well-studied drug target for various disorders such as glaucoma, epilepsy, sleep apnea, and high altitude sickness. In the past decades, a large category of diverse...