Carbonic anhydrase inhibitors as emerging drugs for the treatment of obesity

Carbonic anhydrases (CAs, EC 4.2.1.1) are ubiquitous metalloenzymes in mammals, being involved in numerous biosynthetic processes, including gluconeogenesis, lipogenesis and ureagenesis. It has recently emerged that CA inhibitors (CAIs) targeting the mitochondrial isoforms CA VA and VB have potential as novel antiobesity drugs. This Editorial discusses the biochemical and biological rationale for the use of CAIs in the management of obesity.