Final answer:
Carbonic anhydrase catalyzes the conversion of CO₂ to bicarbonate in tissues, is abundant in red blood cells, and aids in the bicarbonate buffer system to transport CO₂ to the lungs.
Step-by-step explanation:
The correct statement about carbonic anhydrase is that it catalyzes the conversion of dissolved CO₂ to bicarbonate in the tissue. Carbonic anhydrase is particularly abundant in red blood cells and plays a crucial role in the bicarbonate buffer system. Essentially, this enzyme speeds up the reaction where carbon dioxide (CO₂) combines with water (H₂O) to form carbonic acid (H₂CO₃), which then quickly dissociates into bicarbonate (HCO₃⁻) and hydrogen ions (H⁺). This reaction helps to transport CO₂ from metabolically active tissues to the lungs. In the lungs, the enzyme catalyzes the reverse reaction, converting bicarbonate back into CO₂, which is then exhaled. The process is summarized by the reaction: CO₂ + H₂O → H₂CO₃ → HCO₃⁻ + H⁺. Chloride shift refers to the exchange of bicarbonate and chloride ions across the erythrocyte membrane, which aids in maintaining ionic balance as bicarbonate is transported in the blood plasma.