Fetal plasma carbonic anhydrase III in prenatal diagnosis of Duchenne muscular dystrophy

Molecular characterization and association analysis of porcine CA3

Carbonic anhydrase 3 (CA3) is a member of the carbonic anhydrase family, which plays an important role in various cell processes. In this paper, molecular characterization revealed that CA3 genomic DNA consists of seven exons and six introns, spans about 10.5 kb and maps to porcine chromosome 4q11-->q14. Results of expression profiles showed that the expression levels of CA3 increased in skeletal muscles from prenatal 33- to 65-day-old Chinese Tongcheng pigs. These levels subsequently decreased to a steady state in prenatal 90-day-old, postnatal 2-day-old, postnatal 28-day-old, and pregnant 65-day-old pigs. The expression patterns of Chinese Tongcheng pig embryos were different from that of Landrace pig embryos. CA3 was expressed at higher levels in skeletal muscle and liver than in kidney, lung, stomach, intestine, and brain, but was not detected in heart and spleen. Statistical analysis showed the CA3 gene polymorphism was different between Chinese indigenous and introduced commercial western pig breeds, and was associated with intramuscular fat content and percentage of ham of pigs.

Evaluation of carrier detection of Duchenne muscular dystrophy using carbonic anhydrase III and creatine kinase

Carbonic anhydrase III (CAIII) and creatine kinase (CK) were measured in plasma samples from a series of females at-risk as carriers of Duchenne muscular dystrophy and compared with control groups. Both plasma CAIII and CK levels were raised in a proportion of carriers. Although measurement of CAIII and CK was no more successful in identifying carriers than CK alone, CAIII could fulfill a useful confirmatory role, particularly for cases with a marginally elevated CK or where the sample is poorly preserved. The difference between the CK and CAIII results could indicate biochemical heterogeneity in the expression of Duchenne muscular dystrophy.