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3-Phosphoglycerate Phosphatase in Plants: II. Distribution, Physiological Considerations, and Comparison with P-Glycolate Phosphatase.

3-Phosphoglycerate phosphatase and phosphoglycolate phosphatase were found in leaves of all 52 plants examined. Activities of both phosphatases varied widely between 1 to 20 micromoles per minute per milligram chlorophyll. Plants were grouped into two categories based upon the relative ratio of activity of 3-phosphoglycerate phosphatase to phosphoglycolate phosphatase. This ratio varied between 2:1 to 4:1 in the C(4)-plants except corn leaves which had a low level of 3-phosphoglycerate phosphatase. This ratio was reversed and varied between 1:2 to 1:6 in all C(3)-plants except one bean variety which had large amounts of both phosphatases. By differential grinding procedures for C(4) plants a major part of the 3-phosphoglycerate phosphatase was found in the mesophyll cells and P-glycolate phosphatase in the bundle sheath cells. Phosphoglycolate phosphatase, but not 3-phosphoglycerate phosphatase, was located in chloroplasts of C(3)- and C(4)- plants. Formation of 3-phosphoglycerate phosphatase increased 4- to 12-fold during greening of etiolated sugarcane leaves. This cytosol phosphatase displayed a diurnal variation in sugarcane leaves by increasing 50% during late daylight hours and early evening. It is proposed that the soluble form of 3-phosphoglycerate phosphatase is necessary for carbon transport between the bundle sheath and mesophyll cells during photosynthesis by C(4)-plants. In C(3)- and C(4)-plants this phosphatase initiates the conversion of 3-phosphoglycerate to serine which is an alternate metabolic pathway to glycolate metabolism and photorespiration.

Journal Article↗

Identification of a glycogen synthase phosphatase from yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae as protein phosphatase 2A.

A glycogen synthase phosphatase was purified from the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae. The purified yeast phosphatase displayed one major protein band which coincided with phosphatase activity on nondenaturing polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. This phosphatase had a molecular mass of about 160,000 Da determined by gel filtration and was comprised of three subunits, termed A, B, and C. The subunit molecular weights estimated by sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis were 60,000 (A), 53,000 (B), and 37,000 (C), indicating that this yeast glycogen synthase phosphatase is a heterotrimer. On ethanol treatment, the enzyme was dissociated to an active species with a molecular weight of 37,000 estimated by gel filtration. The yeast phosphatase dephosphorylated yeast glycogen synthase, rabbit muscle glycogen phosphorylase, casein, and the alpha subunit of rabbit muscle phosphorylase kinase, was not sensitive to heat-stable protein phosphatase inhibitor 2, and was inhibited 90% by 1 nM okadaic acid. Dephosphorylation of glycogen synthase, phosphorylase, and phosphorylase kinase by this yeast enzyme could be stimulated by histone H1 and polylysines. Divalent cations (Mg2+ and Ca2+) and chelators (EDTA and EGTA) had no effect on dephosphorylation of glycogen synthase or phosphorylase while Mn2+ stimulated enzyme activity by approximately 50%. The specific activity and kinetics for phosphorylase resembled those of mammalian phosphatase 2A. An antibody against a synthetic peptide corresponding to the carboxyl terminus of the catalytic subunit of rabbit skeletal muscle protein phosphatase 2A reacted with subunit C of purified yeast phosphatase on immunoblots, whereas the analogous peptide antibody against phosphatase 1 did not. These data show that this yeast glycogen synthase phosphatase has structural and catalytic similarity to protein phosphatase 2A found in mammalian tissues.

Chromatography, Affinity↗

Identification of the phosphatase deinhibitor protein phosphatases in rabbit skeletal muscle.

In rabbit skeletal muscle the polycation-stimulated (PCS) protein phosphatases [Merlevede (1985) Adv. Protein Phosphatases 1, 1-18] are the only phosphatases displaying significant activity toward the deinhibitor protein. Among them, the PCSH protein phosphatase represents more than 80% of the measurable deinhibitor phosphatase activity associated with the PCS phosphatases. The deinhibitor phosphatase activity co-purifies with the PCSH phosphatase to apparent homogeneity. In the last purification step two forms of PCSH phosphatase were separated (PCSH1, containing 62, 55 and 34 kDa subunits, and PCSH2, containing 62 and 35 kDa subunits), both showing the same deinhibitor/phosphorylase phosphatase activity ratio. The activity of the PCSH phosphatase toward the deinhibitor is not stimulated by polycations such as protamine, histone H1 or polylysine, unlike the stimulation observed with phosphorylase as the substrate. The phosphorylase phosphatase activity of PCSH phosphatase is inhibited by ATP, PPi and Pi, whereas the deinhibitor phosphatase activity of the enzyme is much less sensitive to these agents.

Adenosine Triphosphate↗

Purification and subunit structure of rat-liver phosphoprotein phosphatase, whose molecular weight is 260000 by gel filtration (phosphatase IB).

1. Phosphoprotein phosphatase IB is a form of rat liver phosphoprotein phosphatase, distinguished from the previously studied phosphoprotein phosphatase II [Tamura et al. (1980) Eur. J. Biochem. 104, 347-355] by earlier elution from DEAE-cellulose, by higher molecular weight on gel filtration (260000) and by lower activity toward phosphorylase alpha. This enzyme was purified to apparent homogeneity by chromatography on DEAE-cellulose, aminohexyl--Sepharose-4B, histone--Sepharose-4B, protamine--Sepharose-4B and Sephadex G-200. 2. The molecular weight of purified phosphatase IB was 260000 by gel filtration and 185000 from S20,W and Stokes' radius. Using histone phosphatase activity as the reference for comparison, the phosphorylase phosphatase activity of purified phosphatase IB was only one-fifth that of phosphatase II. 3. Sodium dodecyl sulfate gel electrophoresis revealed that phosphatase IB contains three types of subunit, namely alpha, beta and gamma, whose molecular weights are 35000, 69000 and 58000, respectively. The alpha subunit is identical to the alpha subunit of phosphatase II. While the beta subunit is also identical or similar to the beta subunit of phoshatase II, the gamma subunit appears to be unique to phosphatase IB. 4. When purified phosphatase IB was treated with 2-mercaptoethanol at -20 degrees C, the enzyme was dissociated to release the catalytically active alpha subunit. Along with this dissociation, there was a 7.4-fold increase in phosphorylase phosphatase activity; but histone phosphatase activity increased only 1.6-fold. The possible functions of the gamma subunit are discussed in relation to this activation of enzyme.

Animals↗

Pertussis toxin modification of PC12 cells inhibits a protein phosphatase 2A-like phosphatase.

We have found that modification of rat PC12 cells with pertussis toxin resulted in an approximately 50% inhibition of a protein phosphatase 2A-like phosphatase. Protein phosphatase 2A (PP2A) is a major cellular serine/threonine-specific protein phosphatase. Treatment of extracts from pertussis toxin-modified PC12 cells with either immobilized alkaline phosphatase or Ca2+ reversed this inhibition. Reactivation of the PP2A-like phosphatase in Ca2+ appears to result from the dephosphorylation of a protein by the Ca2+/calmodulin-dependent protein phosphatase calcineurin. The PP2A-like phosphatase in extracts from pertussis toxin-modified PC12 cells eluted from a Mono Q column at a higher ionic strength than did the PP2A-like phosphatase in extracts from control cells. After incubation in Ca2+, the PP2A-like phosphatase in extracts from pertussis toxin-modified cells eluted from a Mono Q column at the same ionic strength as did the PP2A-like phosphatase in extracts from control cells. These results indicate that the effect of pertussis toxin on this PP2A-like activity results from the phosphorylation of either one of the subunits of the PP2A-like phosphatase or a protein that when phosphorylated binds to and inhibits this phosphatase. Pertussis toxin modification did not result in the phosphorylation of the catalytic subunit of PP2A. Because phosphorylation regulates the activities of many enzymes and cell surface receptors, a pertussis toxin-induced decrease in PP2A activity could alter signaling pathways and other cellular processes in which G proteins are not directly involved.

Alkaline Phosphatase↗

The protein phosphatases involved in cellular regulation. 2. Purification, subunit structure and properties of protein phosphatases-2A0, 2A1, and 2A2 from rabbit skeletal muscle.

Protein phosphatases-2A0, 2A1 and 2A2 have been purified to homogeneity from rabbit skeletal muscle. Approximately 1 mg of phosphatase-2A0 and 2A1, and 0.5 mg of phosphatase-2A2, was isolated from 4000 g muscle within 10 days. Protein phosphatases-2A0 and 2A1 each comprised three subunits, termed A, B' and C (2A0) or A, B and C (2A1), while phosphatase-2A2 contained only two subunits, A and C. The A and C components of phosphatases-2A0, 2A1 and 2A2 had indistinguishable mobilities on sodium dodecyl sulphate/polyacrylamide gels and identical peptide maps. By these criteria, the C component was also identical to the catalytic subunit of phosphatase-2A purified from ethanol-treated muscle extracts. The electrophoretic mobilities of the B and B' subunits were slightly different, and their peptide maps were distinct. The molecular masses of the native enzymes determined by sedimentation equilibrium centrifugation were 181 +/- 6 kDa (2A0), 202 +/- 6 kDa (2A1) and 107 +/- 5 kDa (2A2), while those of the subunits estimated by sodium dodecyl sulphate/polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis were 60 kDa (A), 55 kDa (B), 54 kDa (B') and 36 kDa (C). These values, in conjunction with molar ratios estimated by densitometric analyses of the gels, suggest that the subunit structures of the enzymes are AB'C2 (2A0), ABC2 (2A1) and AC (2A2). Protein phosphatase-2A2 appears to be derived from 2A0 and/or 2A1 during purification through degradation or dissociation of the B' and/or B subunits. Protein phosphatases-2A0, 2A1 and 2A2 were the only phosphorylase phosphatases in rabbit skeletal muscle that were activated by the basic proteins, protamine (A0.5 = 0.25 microM), histone H1 (A0.5 = 0.3 microM) and polylysine (A0.5 = 0.04 microM). Activation by protamine varied over 5-20-fold for phosphatase-2A0 and 5-7-fold for phosphatases-2A1 and 2A2. The dephosphorylation of glycogen synthase was activated by basic proteins in a similar manner to the phosphorylase phosphatase activity. The isolated C subunit was also stimulated by histone H1 and protamine, but 5-10-fold higher concentrations were required, and with phosphorylase as substrate, maximum activation was only about 2-fold. Activation by basic proteins appears to involve their interaction with the A and/or C subunits, but not with the B or B' subunits, or substrates phosphorylase and glycogen synthase.

Animals↗

Cytosolic protein phosphatases of rat ascites hepatoma AH-13 as compared with those of rat liver: isolation and characterization of a novel protein phosphatase.

To investigate the alterations of phosphoseryl/phosphothreonyl-protein phosphatases in neoplastic tissues, the cytosols of rat liver and AH-13, a strain of rat ascites hepatoma, were chromatographed on DEAE-cellulose and the fractions obtained were assayed for protein phosphatase with glycogen synthase D and phosphorylase alpha as phosphoprotein substrates. While the glycogen synthase phosphatase and phosphorylase phosphatase activities of liver cytosol were largely due to phosphatases IA and II, respectively, as previously reported, these phosphatases were absent or present in only small amounts in AH-13 cytosol, whose glycogen synthase phosphatase and phosphorylase phosphatase activities were due almost wholly to a novel protein phosphatase that appeared to be absent in liver. This phosphatase, termed phosphatase H, was purified further by aminohexyl-Sepharose-4B and Sephadex G-200 chromatography without altering its glycogen synthase D/phosphorylase alpha activity ratio. Purified phosphatase H required Mg2+ or Mn2+ for activity and had a molecular weight of about 330,000. It displayed a substrate specificity broader than that of either phosphatase IA or II.

Animals↗

Dephosphorylation of synthetic phosphopeptides by protein phosphatase-T, a phosphothreonyl protein phosphatase.

The synthetic phosphohexapeptides Arg-Arg-Ala-Thr(35P)-Val-Ala and Arg-Arg-Ala-Ser(32P)-Val-Ala, phosphorylated by the cAMP-dependent protein kinase and differing only in the nature of the phosphorylated residue, have been used as substrates of a partially purified rat liver protein phosphatase-T, distinct from the multifunctional protein phosphatase-1. While the phosphothreonyl hexapeptide is readily dephosphorylated (exhibiting a Km = 15 microM), the phosphoseryl one is almost unaffected. Such a behavior is not shared by protein phosphatase-1, calf intestine alkaline phosphatase, and potato acid phosphatase, all of which are more active on the phosphoseryl hexapeptide. The NH2-terminal basic residues critical for cAMP-dependent phosphorylation are not required in the dephosphorylation reaction, as both Arg can be removed without impairing the efficiency of protein phosphatase-T toward the phosphothreonyl peptide. On the other hand, the replacement of 2 Pro for the Ala and Val flanking Thr(32P), to give a new phosphohexapeptide reproducing the phosphorylated site of protein phosphatase inhibitor-1, prevents the protein phosphatase-T activity. Moreover, IgG heavy chain 32P labeled in tyrosine is not affected by protein phosphatase-T, while it is dephosphorylated by alkaline phosphatase. These results would indicate that protein phosphatase(s)-T represent a distinct class of protein phosphatases specifically involved in the dephosphorylation of phosphothreonyl residues fulfilling definite structural requirements.

Acid Phosphatase↗

Regulation of synthase phosphatase and phosphorylase phosphatase in rat liver.

Using substrates purified from liver, the apparent Km values of synthase phosphatase ([UDPglucose--glycogen glucosyltransferase-D]phosphohydrolase, EC 3.1.3.42) and phosphorylase phosphatase (phosphorylase a phosphohydrolase, EC 3.1.3.17) were found to be 0.7 and 60 units/ml respectively. The maximal velocity of phosphorylase phosphatase was more than a 100 times that of synthase phosphatase. In adrenalectomized, fasted animals there was a complete loss of synthase phosphatase but only a slight decrease in phosphorylase phosphatase when activity was measured using endogenous substrates in a concentrated liver extract. When assayed under optimal conditions with purified substrates, both activities were present but had decreased to very low levels. Mixing experiments indicated that synthase D present in the extract of adrenalectomized fasted animals was altered such that it was no longer a substrate for synthase phosphatase from normal rats. Phosphorylase a substrate on the other hand was unaltered and readily converted. When glucose was given in vivo, no change in percent of synthase in the I form was seen in adrenalectomized rats but the percent of phosphorylase in the a form was reduced. Precipitation of protein from an extract of normal fed rats with ethanol produced a large activation of phosphorylase phosphatase activity with no corresponding increase in synthase phosphatase activity. Despite the low phosphorylase phosphatase present in extracts of adrenalectomized fasted animals, ethanol precipitation increased activity to the same high level as obtained in the normal fed rats. Synthase phosphatase and phosphorylase phosphatase activities were also decreased in normal fasted, diabetic fed and fasted, and adrenalectomized fed rats. Both enzymes recovered in the same manner temporally after oral glucose administration to adrenalectomized, fasted rats. These results suggest an integrated regulatory mechanism for the two phosphatase.

Adrenalectomy↗

Protein phosphatases 1, 2A, and 2C are protein histidine phosphatases.

Eukaryotic cellular proteins contain phosphohistidine. To search for protein histidine phosphatases, protein histidine kinase from Saccharomyces cerevisiae was used to phosphorylate histone H4 on histidine at position 75 in the H4 amino acid sequence. Incubation of the phosphorylated histone H4 with either protein phosphatase 1, 2A, or 2C resulted in extensive removal of phosphate from the phosphorylated histone. Thus, protein phosphatases 1, 2A, and 2C are histidine phosphatases as well as serine/threonine phosphatases. Calcium/calmodulin-regulated protein phosphatase (protein phosphatase 2B) did not remove phosphate from phosphohistidine. The histidine phosphatase reaction was tested for a magnesium requirement and effects of inhibitor-1 and okadaic acid. In all cases, the protein phosphatases behaved as they do in their serine/threonine phosphatase activity. Extracts of the yeast, S. cerevisiae, contain protein histidine phosphatase activity. Quantitative measurement of phosphatase activity shows that the activity against phosphohistidine is a major activity of protein phosphatases 1, 2A, and 2C.

Carrier Proteins↗

Effect of nitration on protein tyrosine phosphatase and protein phosphatase activity in neuronal cell membranes of newborn piglets.

Protein tyrosine phosphatase predominantly determines the status of protein tyrosine kinase-dependent phosphorylation of specific proteins and controls the survival and death of neurons. Previous studies have shown that protein tyrosine phosphatase activity is decreased during hypoxia in cortical membranes of the newborn piglet. We have also shown that nitric oxide (NO) free radicals are generated during hypoxia, and may result in modification of protein tyrosine phosphatase via peroxynitrite-mediated modification. The present study tests the hypothesis that the hypoxia-induced decrease in protein tyrosine phosphatase activity is NO-mediated. To test this hypothesis, in vitro experiments were conducted by measuring protein tyrosine phosphatase activity in the presence of an NO donor, sodium nitroprusside (SNP), or peroxynitrite. Since 3-nitrotyrosine is produced as a consequence of peroxynitrite reactions, we have also examined the effect of 3-nitrotyrosine on protein phophatase activity. Cerebral cortical P(2) membranes were prepared from seven normoxic newborn piglets and each sample was divided into three aliquots: a control group, a SNP group (exposed to 200 microM SNP), and a peroxynitrite group (exposed to 100 microM peroxynitrite). Protein tyrosine phosphatase activity was determined spectrophotometrically in the presence or absence of 2 microM bpV(phen), a highly selective inhibitor of protein tyrosine phosphatase. The protein tyrosine phosphatase activity was 198+/-25 nmol/mg protein/h in the normoxic group, 177+/-30 nmol/mg protein/h in the SNP group (p=NS versus normoxic) and 77+/-20 nmol/mg protein/h in the peroxynitrite group (p<0.001 versus normoxic). The results show that peroxynitrite but not SNP exposure results in decreased protein tyrosine phosphatase activity in vitro. Furthermore 3-nitrotyrosine (100 microm), a product of peroxynitrite, decreased the enzyme activity from 926+/-102 to 200+/-77 (p<0.001). We conclude that protein tyrosine phosphatase regulation is mediated by peroxynitrite. We propose that hypoxia-induced NO production leading to peroxynitrite formation is a potential mechanism of protein tyrosine phosphatase inactivation in vivo. The NO-induced decrease in protein tyrosine phosphatase and protein phosphatase activity, leading to Bcl-2 protein phosphorylation and loss of its antiapoptotic activity may be a NO-mediated mechanism of programmed cell death in the hypoxic brain.

Animals↗

Characterization of glycogen-synthase phosphatase and phosphorylase phosphatase in subcellular liver fractions.

Upon fractionation of a postmitochondrial supernatant from rat liver, the synthase phosphatase (EC 3.1.3.42) activity (assayed at high tissue concentrations) was largely recovered in the glycogen fraction and to a minor extent in the cytosol. In contrast, the phosphorylase phosphatase (EC 3.1.3.17) activity was approximately equally distributed between these two fractions, a lesser amount being recovered in the microsomal fraction. The phosphatase activities in the microsomal and glycogen fractions were almost completely inhibited by a preincubation with the modulator protein, a specific inhibitor of type-1 (ATP,Mg-dependent) protein phosphatases. In the cytosolic fraction, however, type-2A (polycation-stimulated) phosphatase(s) contributed significantly to the dephosphorylation of phosphorylase and of in vitro phosphorylated muscular synthase. Liver synthase b, used as substrate for the measurement of synthase phosphatase throughout this work, was only activated by modulator-sensitive phosphatases. Trypsin treatment of the subcellular fractions resulted in a dramatically increased (up to 1000-fold) sensitivity to modulator, a several-fold increase in phosphorylase phosphatase activity and a complete loss of synthase phosphatase activity. Similar changes occurred during dilution of the glycogen-bound enzyme. A preincubation with the deinhibitor protein, which is known to counteract the effects of inhibitor-1 and modulator, increased several-fold the phosphorylase phosphatase activity, but exclusively in the cytosolic and microsomal fractions. It did not affect the synthase phosphatase activity. Taken together, the results indicate the existence of distinct, multi-subunit type-1 phosphatases in the cytosolic, microsomal and glycogen fractions.

Animals↗

The regulatory and basal phosphorylation sites of hormone-sensitive lipase are dephosphorylated by protein phosphatase-1, 2A and 2C but not by protein phosphatase-2B.

The activity of hormone-sensitive lipase, the rate-limiting enzyme in adipose tissue lipolysis, is controlled by cAMP-mediated phosphorylation at a specific regulatory phosphorylation site. The lipase is also phosphorylated at a site, termed basal, without any effects on its activity [Strålfors et al. (1984) Proc. Natl Acad. Sci. USA 81, 3317-3321]. The capacity of protein phosphatase-1, 2A, 2B and 2C to dephosphorylate the lipase, selectively phosphorylated by glycogen synthase kinase-4 and cAMP-dependent protein kinase at the basal and regulatory phosphorylation sites, was compared with that towards glycogen phosphorylase and phosphorylase kinase (alpha subunit). Protein phosphatase-1, 2A and 2C were found to dephosphorylate both phosphorylation sites of hormone-sensitive lipase, while protein phosphatase-2B had no measureable activity towards any of the sites. When the activities of protein phosphatase-1, 2A and 2C were normalized with respect to the reference substrates, they were found to dephosphorylate the lipase regulatory site in the approximate relations of 1:4:3 and the basal site in the approximate relations of 1:6:4. Protein phosphatase-1 showed 20% higher and protein phosphatase-2A and 2C 80% higher activity towards the basal site compared to the regulatory site. The two phosphorylation sites of the lipase were comparable to good substrates for protein phosphatase-2A and 2C, but relatively poor substrates for protein phosphatase-1. Protein phosphatase-2C activity towards the lipase was completely dependent on Mg2+ with a half-maximal effect at 3 mM. Protamine increased the lipase dephosphorylation by protein phosphatase-1 3-5-fold with half-maximal effect at 0.6 microgram/ml, and by protein phosphatase-2A about 2-fold with half-maximal effect at 3-5 micrograms/ml, thus illustrating the potential for control of these lipase phosphatase activities.

Adipose Tissue↗

Evaluation of APHA and AOAC II methods for phosphatase in butter and differentiation of milk and microbial phosphatases by agarose-gel electrophoresis.

Salted and unsalted butters with 3 levels of phosphatase were prepared with both raw and pasteurized cream containing 36% fat. Test samples were analyzed for phosphatase by the modified method of the American Public Health Association (APHA) and the official AOAC method, 16.256 (1984, 14th Ed., 1990 15th Ed., 946.02). In the APHA method, weighing of solid frozen butter for testing yielded repeatable results. Addition of 0.0-1.0 mg magnesium to the butter had little effect on phosphatase activity in the APHA modified rapid colorimetric method (MRCM), but caused the phosphatase activity to decrease in the AOAC method. Phosphatase in salted and unsalted butters was quite stable at -17 +/- 1 degrees C and at 3.0 +/- 0.5 degrees C; however, within 2 to 4 days, freshly prepared butters stored at 22 +/- 1 degrees C developed reactivated and/or microbial phosphatases that were both heat-labile and heat-stable. At 22 +/- 1 degrees C, frozen butters showed decreased milk phosphatase activity before producing microbial phosphatase. Heat-labile phosphatases in salted and unsalted butters were inactivated at 62.8 degrees C for 10 min, and the phosphatase lability was partially due to the heat-denaturing effect of NaCl in salted butter. Some heat-stable phosphatases in unsalted butter survived at 66 degrees C for 30 min. Differentiation of milk phosphatase from microbial phosphatases was difficult by both methods; however, they were successfully differentiated by the agarose-gel electrophoretic technique.

Animals↗

Biochemical and genetic evidence that yeast extracellular protein phosphatase activity is due to acid phosphatase.

In this paper evidences are presented strongly confirming that an extracellular 32P-phosphopeptide phosphatase activity of yeast is accounted for by acid phosphatase. Dephosphorylation of 32P phosphoseryl peptides was achieved with whole yeast cells, thus demonstrating extracellular location of protein phosphatase activity. The acid phosphatase and protein phosphatase activity copurified throughout purification procedure. Purified enzyme showed the same pH-profile and had the same Km value with phosphopeptide substrate as intact cells. Protein phosphatase activity is repressed by phosphate in the same manner as acid phosphatase activity, showing that not only repressible but also constitutive acid phosphatase displays protein phosphatase activity. Using mutant strains defective in acid phosphatase activity it was confirmed that acid phosphatase and protein phosphatase activities are the products of the same gene(s).

Acid Phosphatase↗

Prostatic acid phosphatase in serum of patients with prostatic cancer is a specific phosphotyrosine acid phosphatase.

We developed an assay to measure at acid pH the phosphotyrosine phosphatase activity in sera from patients with prostatic cancer. The method used quantifies the inorganic phosphate liberated from phosphotyrosine after incubation with serum, followed by the deproteinization of the reaction mixture. A high acid phosphatase (EC 3.1.3.2) activity towards phosphotyrosine was observed in all sera from patients with increased activity of prostatic acid phosphatase. This activity represented 96% of prostatic acid phosphatase and 77% of total acid phosphatase activities. Moreover, it was correlated (r = 0.91) with the amount of serum prostatic acid phosphatase determined by radioimmunoassay. When serum acid phosphatase activity was measured on several phosphorylated substrates, preferential hydrolysis was demonstrated for those in which the phosphate group was esterified on an aromatic ring rather than those presenting an aliphatic chain. Among phosphoamino acids, only phosphotyrosine was a good substrate, with little or no activity observed with phosphoserine and phosphothreonine. Human seminal plasma and partially purified prostatic acid phosphatase, tested for their activity on some of these substrates, gave similar results. On the other hand, sera from patients with above-normal alkaline phosphatase activity and no prostatic disease showed little or no activity on phosphotyrosine at both acid and alkaline pH values. Evidence is presented that the prostatic acid phosphatase in serum is a specific phosphotyrosine acid phosphatase.

Acid Phosphatase↗