A beta-carbonic anhydrase (CA, EC 4.2.1.1) was cloned, purified and characterized from Anopheles gambiae, the mosquito species mainly involved in the transmission of malaria. The new enzyme, AgaCA, showed a significant catalytic activity for the physiologic reaction, CO2 hydration to bicarbonate and protons, with a k(cat) of 7.2 x 10(5) s(-1) and k(cat)/K-m of 5.6 x 10(7) M-1 s(-1), being thus similar to parasite beta-CAs which were discovered earlier as drug targets for antifungal or anti-protozoan agents. An inhibition study of AgaCA with a panel of aromatic, aliphatic and heterocyclic sulfonamides allowed us to identify several low nanomolar inhibitors of the enzyme. Benzolamide and aminobenzolamide showed inhibition constants of 6.8-9.8 nM, whereas a structurally related aromatic derivative, 4-(2-hydroxymethyl-4-nitrophenyl-sulfon-amidoethyl)-benzenesulfonamide was the strongest inhibitor with a K-I of 6.1 nM. As b beta-CAs are not present in mammals, including humans, finding effective and selective A. gambiae CA inhibitors may lead to alternative procedures for controlling malaria by impairing the growth of its transmission vector, the mosquito. (C) 2015 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.