본 논문에서는 삼세기(Shaggy sea raven, Hemitripterus villosus)를 실험 재료로 선택하여 Carbonic Anhydrase Isozymes (CAs) 중의 하나인 CA III에 대한 연구를 SDS-PAGE, Isoelectric Focusing (IEF), Western blot analysis의 방법을 통하여 진행하였다. SDS-PAGE와 Western blot 결과 삼세기 아가미, 혈액, 장, 간, 신당, 근육, 심장조직에서 CA III의 분자량인 30 kDa의 band가 확인되었다. 삼세기의 근육과 아가미에 대한 등전점 전기영동(IEF)과 Western blot analysis 결과 pI 7.0 부근에서 band가 형성되는 것을 확인할 수 있었다. 특히 SDS-PAGE와 IEF 실험결과 삼세기의 아가미 조직에서 CA III의 발현량이 다른 조직들에 비하여 우세하게 나타났다. 이는 아가미가 다른 조직들과 달리 어류의 생체기관 중 유일하게 외부와 직접 접촉이 가능한 조직으로서 활성산소에 대한 손상을 최소화하기 위한 것으로 사료된다.
Carbonic anhydrase isozymes (CAs) are widespread zinc-containing metalloenzyme family. The enzyme catalyzes the reversible interconversion of $CO_2$ and $HCO_3$. This reaction is the main role of CA enzymes in physiological conditions. CA III, one of the CA isozymes, has been identified in many tissues. It is distinguished from the other isozymes by several characteristics, particularly by a lower specific activity and by its resistance to acetazolamide. However, the physiological function of CA III in fish is unknown. In this study, we examined the detection of CAs in the Shaggy sea raven Hemitripterus villosus, using SDS-PAGE, isoelectric focusing (IEF), and western blot analysis. We detected a significant protein band with molecular weight about 30 kDa from the tissues of H. villosus by SDS-PAGE and western blotting. A specific band of CA III with pI 7.0 was detected by IEF and western blotting in gill and muscle. The immunoreaction of anti-CA III expressed in the gill of H. villosus was much stronger than other tissues. One explanation for this result is that the fish gill is the only organ that is exposed to the external environment and that plays an important role in acid-base relevant ion transfer, the transfer of $H^+$ and/or $HCO{_3}^-$, for the maintenance of systemic pH. This is the first report on the identification of a carbonic anhydrase III-like protein from H. villosus.
