The unique secretory isozyme of human carbonic anhydrase (hCA, EC 4.2.1.1), hCA VI, has been cloned, expressed, and purified. The kinetic parameters for the CO(2) hydration reaction proved hCA VI to possess a k(cat) of 3.4x10(5)s(-1) and k(cat)/K(M) of 4.9x10(7)M(-1)s(-1) (at pH 7.5 and 20 degrees C). hCA VI has a significant catalytic activity for the physiological reaction, of the same order of magnitude as isoforms CA I or CA IX. A series of anions (such as bicarbonate, chloride, nitrate, etc.) were shown to inhibit the activity of the enzyme, with inhibition constants typically in the range of 0.60-0.90mM. The best hCA VI inhibitors were cyanide, azide, sulfamide, and sulfamate, with inhibition constants in the range of 70-90microM.