Final answer:
Carbonic anhydrase catalyzes the formation of carbonic acid from CO2 and water, aiding in CO2 transport and pH balance. The chloride shift involves the exchange of bicarbonate and chloride ions to maintain electrical neutrality in red blood cells and facilitate CO2 transport.
Step-by-step explanation:
The function of carbonic anhydrase (CA) is to catalyze the reaction between carbon dioxide (CO2) and water (H2O) to form carbonic acid (H2CO3), which quickly dissociates into bicarbonate (HCO3-) and a hydrogen ion (H+). This reaction is crucial in maintaining acid-base balance in the blood and facilitating CO2 transport.
The active site of carbonic anhydrase contains a zinc ion (Zn²+) which aids in generating the hydroxide ion necessary for this reaction at a neutral pH, which is typically around pH 7.0.
The chloride shift refers to the exchange of bicarbonate out of and chloride into red blood cells. This process is necessary to maintain electrical neutrality within the cells as bicarbonate ions are transported to the plasma in exchange for chloride ions.
The purpose of the chloride shift is to efficiently transport CO2 from tissues to the lungs for exhalation, while also preventing changes in blood pH.