– Carbonic anhydrase 5A, mitochondrial, also known as Carbonate dehydratase VA, Carbonic anhydrase VA, CA-VA and CA5A, is a member of thealpha-carbonic anhydrase family. Carbonic anhydrases (CAs) are a large family of zinc metalloenzymes first discovered in 1933 that catalyze the reversible hydration of carbon dioxide. CAs participate in a variety of biological processes, including respiration, calcification, acid-base balance, bone resorption, and the formation of aqueous humor, cerebrospinal fluid, saliva, and gastric acid. CA5A / CA-VA is activated by histamine, L-adrenaline, L- and D-histidine, and L- and D-phenylalanine. It is inhibited by coumarins, sulfonamide derivatives such as acetazolamide and Foscarnet (phosphonoformate trisodium salt).