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Paraneoplastic elevation of serum alkaline phosphatase in renal cell carcinoma: incidence and implication on prognosis.

PURPOSE: We investigated the incidence and prognostic significance of paraneoplastic elevation of serum alkaline phosphatase in patients with renal cell carcinoma. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Clinical data of 365 pathologically proved renal cell carcinoma cases were reviewed. Serum alkaline phosphatase level greater than 100 units per 1., but without obvious conditions that may cause phosphatase elevation, including metastasis to or disease of liver or bone and pregnancy, was regarded as paraneoplastic serum alkaline phosphatase elevation. Survival was evaluated using the Kaplan-Meier method. RESULTS: Of 365 patients 77 (21.1%) had paraneoplastic serum alkaline phosphatase elevation. The respective incidence from stage I to IV cases was 9.9% (16 of 161), 31.9% (15 of 47), 34.3% (23 of 67) and 25.6% (23 of 90). Patients with stage I disease had the lowest incidence but there were no statistically significant differences among stages II, III and IV disease. Of 77 patients with elevated serum alkaline phosphatase 48 had additional paraneoplastic manifestations. The disease specific 5-year survival rate in patients with normal serum alkaline phosphatase was significantly better than in patients with isolated phosphatase elevation, which in turn was better than in patients with multiple paraneoplastic syndromes (70.7 versus 50.5 versus 30.8%). Patients with persistent or recurrent elevation of serum alkaline phosphatase after radical nephrectomy had metastatic lesion or local recurrence. In some patients serum alkaline phosphatase returned to normal after nephrectomy but metastasis developed later without recurrent phosphatase elevation. CONCLUSIONS: Paraneoplastic serum alkaline phosphatase elevation in renal cell carcinoma patients implies an unfavorable prognosis, and additional paraneoplastic syndromes further worsen the prognosis. Recurrent or persistent serum alkaline phosphatase elevation after radical nephrectomy suggests distant metastasis or residual tumor. However, the return of serum alkaline phosphatase to normal does not guarantee cure of the disease. Identification of paraneoplastic serum alkaline phosphatase elevation is valuable in the prediction of outcome and postoperative followup of renal cell carcinoma patients.

Alkaline Phosphatase↗

Specificity of the polycation-stimulated (type-2A) and ATP,Mg-dependent (type-1) protein phosphatases toward substrates phosphorylated by P34cdc2 kinase.

p34cdc2 kinase, a critical regulator of the cell cycle, has been shown to recognize the consensus sequence S/TP in proteins such as histone H1, the retinoblastoma gene product RB and the carboxyl-terminal domain of eukaryotic RNA polymerase II. Using phosphorylated synthetic peptides, representing the p34cdc2 phosphorylation sites in these proteins and histone H1 protein as substrates, we investigated the substrate specificity of the different oligomeric forms of the polycation-stimulated (PCS/type-2A) protein phosphatase and the active catalytic subunit of the ATP,Mg-dependent (AMDc/type 1) protein phosphatase. The results show that the oligomeric structure of the PCS phosphatases is an important determinant for efficient dephosphorylation. The trimeric PCSH1 and PCSM phosphatases are about 10-20-fold-better histone H1 phosphatases than the dimeric PCSH2 and PCSL phosphatases and about 100-fold better than the catalytic subunit (PCSC), suggesting a regulatory role for the 72-kDa, 65-kDa and 55-kDa subunits. The RB peptide = INGS(P)PRT(P)PRRGQNR, is preferred over phosphorylase a (8-fold) by the PCSH1 phosphatase and is about a 40-fold and 95-fold-better substrate for the PCSH1 phosphatase than for the PCSM and PCSL phosphatases, respectively. The primary structure surrounding the S/T(P)P motif, by itself a strong negative determinant for dephosphorylation, can harbour positive features which relieve the constraint imposed by the carboxyl-terminal proline. Thus, the RB peptide INGS(P)PRT(P)PRRGQNR, in which the T(P)P configuration is preferred over the S(P)P sequence, is an extremely good and specific substrate for the PCSH1 phosphatase (Km = 10 microM, Vmax = 3882 nmol.min-1.mg-1). The AMDC phosphatase is a poor phosphatase for all the phosphopeptides tested, unless Mn2+ is added. Its histone H1 phosphatase activity is much less sensitive than its phosphorylase a and phosphopeptide phosphatase activity to inhibition by the modulator or inhibitor-1. The results strongly suggest a role for the trimeric PCSH1 phosphatase in reversing the p34cdc2 phosphorylations.

Adenosine Triphosphate↗

Isolation and characterization of rabbit skeletal muscle protein phosphatases C-I and C-II.

Previous studies have shown that phosphorylase phosphatase can be isolated from rabbit liver and bovine heart as a form of Mr approximately 35,000 after an ethanol treatment of tissue extracts. This enzyme form was designated as protein phosphatase C. In the present study, reproducible methods for the isolation of two forms of protein phosphatase C from rabbit skeletal muscle to apparent homogeneity are described. Protein phosphatase C-I was obtained in yields of up to 20%, with specific activities toward phosphorylase a of 8,000-16,000 units/mg of protein. This enzyme represents the major phosphorylase phosphatase activity present in the ethanol-treated muscle extracts. The second enzyme, protein phosphatase C-II, had a much lower specific activity toward phosphorylase a (250-900 units/mg). Phosphatase C-I and phosphatase C-II had Mr = 32,000 and 33,500, respectively, as determined by sodium dodecyl sulfate disc gel electrophoresis. The two enzymes displayed distinct enzymatic properties. Phosphatase C-II was associated with a more active alkaline phosphatase activity toward p-nitrophenyl phosphate than was phosphatase C-I. Phosphatase C-II activities were activated by Mn2+, whereas phosphatase C-I was inhibited. Phosphatase C-I was inhibited by rabbit skeletal muscle inhibitor 2 while phosphatase C-II was not inhibited. Both enzymes dephosphorylated glycogen synthase and phosphorylase kinase, but displayed different specificities toward the alpha- and beta-subunit phosphates of phosphorylase kinase (Ganapathi, M. K., Silberman, S. R., Paris, H., and Lee, E. Y. C. (1980) J. Biol. Chem. 246, 3213-3217). The amino acid compositions of the two proteins were similar. Peptide mapping of the two proteins showed that they are distinct proteins and do not have a precursor-proteolytic product relationship.

Amino Acids↗

Association of matrix acid and alkaline phosphatases with mineralization of cartilage and endochondral bone.

The activities of acid and alkaline phosphatases were localized by enzyme histochemistry in the chondroepiphyses of 5 week old rabbits. Using paraformaldehyde-lysine-periodate as fixative, the activity of acid phosphatase was particularly well preserved and could be demonstrated not only in osteoclasts, but also in chondrocytes as well as in the cartilage and early endochondral matrices. The acid phosphatase in the chondrocytes and the matrix was tartrate-resistant, but inhibited by 2 mM sodium fluoride, whereas for osteoclasts 50-100 mM sodium fluoride were required for inhibition. Simultaneous localisation of both acid and alkaline phosphatase activities was possible in tissue that had been fixed in 85% ethanol and processed immediately. In the growth plates of the secondary ossification centre and the physis, there was a sequential localisation of the two phosphatases associated with chondrocyte maturation. The matrix surrounding immature epiphyseal chondrocytes or resting/proliferating growth plate chondrocytes contained weak acid phosphatase activity. Maturing chondrocytes were positive for alkaline phosphatase which spread to the matrix in the pre-mineralizing zone, in a pattern that was consistent with the known location of matrix vesicles. The region of strong alkaline phosphatase activity was the precise region where acid phosphatase activity was reduced. With the onset of cartilage calcification, alkaline phosphatase activity disappeared, but strong acid phosphatase activity was found in close association with the early mineral deposition. Acid phosphatase activity was also present in the matrix of the endochondral bone, but was only found in early spicules which had recently mineralised. The results suggest that alkaline phosphatase activity is required in preparation of mineralization, whereas acid phosphatase activity might have a contributory role during the early progression of mineral formation.

Acid Phosphatase↗

Activity of smooth muscle phosphatases 1 and 2A in rabbit basilar artery in vasospasm.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Subarachnoid hemorrhage frequently leads to a long-term cerebral artery narrowing called vasospasm. Recently, the involvement of myosin light chain kinase has been found in experimental vasospasm in our laboratory. We therefore measured the activity of serine/threonine protein phosphatases 1 and 2A in the rabbit basilar artery in vasospasm and in vasocontraction to study their role, particularly in regard to vasospasm compared with vasocontraction. METHODS: Vasospasm was produced in the rabbit basilar artery by a two-hemorrhage method. Vasocontraction was induced by local application of KCl or serotonin to the rabbit basilar artery after a transclival exposure. The control animals were treated with saline instead of fresh blood. Serine/threonine protein phosphatase activity in the basilar artery was assayed with the use of [32P]phosphorylase-a as a substrate; protein phosphatase 1 activity was evaluated as protein phosphatase activity in the presence of 1 nmol/L okadaic acid, whereas protein phosphatase 2A activity was assessed as protein phosphatase activity inhibited by 1 nmol/L okadaic acid. RESULTS: Values of mean activity of protein phosphatase 1 in myofibrillar extract were 3.58 +/- 0.26 nmol/min per milligram in the control group, 3.22 +/- 0.12 nmol/min per milligram in the spastic group on day 2, and 3.01 +/- 0.16 nmol/min per milligram in the spastic group on day 4 (a significant decrease in protein phosphatase 1 activity in the spastic group on days 2 and 4). In contrast, these values did not show any significant changes in the KCl and serotonin groups. Values of mean activity of protein phosphatase 2A in cytosolic extract were 0.90 +/- 0.07 nmol/min per milligram in the control group, 0.75 +/- 0.10 nmol/min per milligram in the spastic group on day 2, and 0.62 +/- 0.17 nmol/min per milligram in the spastic group on day 4 (a significant reduction in protein phosphatase 2A in the spastic group on days 2 and 4). There was no evidence of significant changes of protein phosphatase 2A in cytosolic extract in the KCl and serotonin groups. CONCLUSIONS: Protein phosphatase 1 in myofibrillar extract is reported to catalyze the dephosphorylation of myosin light chain and calponin, whereas protein phosphatase 2A in cytosolic extract catalyzes the dephosphorylation of calponin and caldesmon. In addition, the phosphorylation of calponin and caldesmon results in the loss of their ability to inhibit smooth muscle contraction. Therefore, the significant decrease in activity of protein phosphatases 1 and 2A in vasospasm may result in uninterrupted vascular smooth muscle contraction by the preservation of phosphorylation of not only myosin light chain but also calponin and caldesmon.

Animals↗

Alpha4 protein as a common regulator of type 2A-related serine/threonine protein phosphatases.

The catalytic activity of the C subunit of serine/threonine phosphatase 2A is regulated by the association with A (PR65) and B subunits. It has been reported that the alpha4 protein, a yeast homolog of the Tap42 protein, binds the C subunit of serine/threonine phosphatase 2A and protein phosphatase 2A-related protein phosphatases such as protein phosphatase 4 and protein phosphatase 6. In the present study, we showed that alpha4 binds these three phosphatases and the association of alpha4 reduces the activities of these phosphatases in vitro. In contrast, PR65 binds to the C subunit of serine/threonine phosphatase 2A but not to protein phosphatase 4 and protein phosphatase 6. These results suggest that the alpha4 protein is a common regulator of the C subunit of serine/threonine phosphatase 2A and protein phosphatase 2A-related protein phosphatases.

Adaptor Proteins, Signal Transducing↗

Immunocytochemical localization of the striatal enriched protein tyrosine phosphatase in the rat striatum: a light and electron microscopic study with a complementary DNA-generated polyclonal antibody.

The present study concerns the immunocytochemical localization of the striatal enriched protein tyrosine phosphatase in the rat striatum. A novel molecular biology technique allowed us to produce a complementary DNA-generated polyclonal antibody raised against the non-catalytic domain of the striatal enriched protein tyrosine phosphatase, which selectively recognized the striatal enriched protein tyrosine phosphatase protein with 46,000 mol. wt on western blots. Immunocytochemical analysis with the specific antibody revealed strong striatal enriched protein tyrosine phosphatase immunoreactivity in the striatum. Light microscopy showed striatal striatal enriched protein tyrosine phosphatase-immunopositive neurons to be of medium size (mean diameter of 14.4 microns), and to comprise approximately 80% of the total neuronal population in the striatum. These cells had round, triangular or polygonal cell bodies with relatively little cytoplasm. Nerve fibers stained positively for striatal enriched protein tyrosine phosphatase were also present in the globus pallidus and the substantia nigra, and the nigral labeling on the ipsilateral side almost disappeared subsequent to cerebral hemitransection, suggesting these immunolabeled structures to be striatal projections. Double-immunofluorescence analysis demonstrated separate populations of striatal enriched protein tyrosine phosphatase-positive cells and neurons stained for parvalbumin. Also, ultrastructural study showed that the striatal enriched protein tyrosine phosphatase-positive neurons (n = 50) possessed no nuclear indentations or intranuclear inclusions. Thus, most striatal striatal enriched protein tyrosine phosphatase-positive neurons were thought to be of the medium-sized spinous type. At the light microscopic level, stained striatal neurons exhibited striatal enriched protein tyrosine phosphatase immunolabeling in their somata, dendrites and axonal processes, but not in their nuclei. Electron microscopic observation showed strong striatal enriched protein tyrosine phosphatase-immunoreactivity on the inner surface of the plasmalemma, on the outer surfaces of mitochondria and on microtubules, particularly of dendrites. A heavy deposit of immunoreaction product was also present on postsynaptic densities in labeled dendrites, while a light deposit was seen on the synaptic vesicles of nerve terminals. The characteristic distribution profile of striatal enriched protein tyrosine phosphatase suggested that the enzyme may play a role in a variety of functional properties of striatal neurons, especially in postsynaptic signaling processes and in regulation of microtubular functions. On the basis of the present findings, we propose the following conclusions: (i) a protein tyrosine phosphorylation system regulated by striatal enriched protein tyrosine phosphatase is involved in certain specialized cellular processes (e.g. signal transduction cascades) of medium-sized spinous neurons distinct from those of other neuronal subsets in the striatum; (ii) a striatal medium spiny neuron is characterized by its expression of striatal enriched protein tyrosine phosphatase and, therefore, the enzyme is useful for detection of the distinct subset of striatal cells or for tracing their axonal projection fibers in the basal ganglia.

Animals↗

The role of alkaline phosphatase isoenzymes as tumor markers for testicular germ cell tumors.

The role of serum alkaline phosphatase as a tumor marker for testicular germ cell disease was investigated in 26 patients with testicular seminoma and 13 with nonseminomatous germ cell testis tumors. Placental alkaline phosphatase-like enzyme was elevated in 50% of the stage I seminoma patients and in all patients with stages II to III disease. In addition, liver (tissue unspecific) alkaline phosphatase was elevated in 10 and 83% of the patients, respectively. Lactic dehydrogenase and beta-human chorionic gonadotropin (beta-HCG) were detected in 50 to 60% of the patients with stage I seminoma. By combining placental alkaline phosphatase-like enzyme, lactic dehydrogenase and beta-HCG, 75% of the stage I and 100% of the stages II and III seminoma patients could be identified correctly. Placental alkaline phosphatase-like enzyme in serum also occurred with nonseminomatous germ cell tumor but less frequently, while liver alkaline phosphatase was not detected at all. Thus, placental alkaline phosphatase-like enzyme and liver alkaline phosphatase were predominantly determined in the serum of patients with seminoma. In studies of tumor tissues from 31 of these patients, those with normal serum placental alkaline phosphatase-like enzyme levels had significantly lower tissue placental alkaline phosphatase-like enzyme levels than patients with elevated serum levels (p less than 0.01). Seminoma tissues showed significantly higher levels of placental alkaline phosphatase-like enzyme and liver alkaline phosphatase than nonseminomatous germ cell tumors (p less than 0.01), explaining the infrequent elevation of serum placental alkaline phosphatase-like enzyme and liver alkaline phosphatase found in patients with nonseminomatous germ cell tumors.

Alkaline Phosphatase↗

Control of placental alkaline phosphatase gene expression in HeLa cells: induction of synthesis by prednisolone and sodium butyrate.

HeLa S3 cells produce an alkaline phosphatase indistinguishable from the enzyme from human term placenta. The phosphatase activity in these cells was induced by both prednisolone and sodium butyrate. Both agents stimulated de novo synthesis of the enzyme. The increase in phosphatase activity paralleled the increase in immunoactivity and biosynthesis of placental alkaline phosphatase. The fully processed phosphatase monomer in control, prednisolone-treated or butyrate-treated cells was a 64.5 K polypeptide, measured by both incorporation of L-[35S]methionine into enzyme protein and active-site labeling. The 64.5 K polypeptide was formed by the incorporation of additional N-acetylneuraminic acid moieties to a precursor polypeptide of 61.5 K. However, this biosynthetic pathway was identified only in butyrate-treated cells. In prednisolone-treated cells, the processing of 61.5 K to the 64.5 K monomer was accelerated, and the presence of the 61.5 K precursor could only be detected by either neuraminidase or monensin treatment. Phosphatase mRNA which comigrated with the term placental alkaline phosphatase mRNA of 2.7 kilobases was induced in the presence of either prednisolone or butyrate. Alkaline phosphatase mRNA in untreated HeLa S3 cells migrated slightly faster than the term placental alkaline phosphatase mRNA. Butyrate also induced a second still faster migrating alkaline phosphatase mRNA. Both prednisolone and butyrate increased the steady-state levels of placental alkaline phosphatase mRNA. Our data indicate that the increase in phosphatase mRNA by prednisolone and butyrate resulted in the induction of alkaline phosphatase activity and biosynthesis in HeLa S3 cells. Furthermore, both agents induced the expression of different alkaline phosphatase gene transcripts without altering its protein product.

Alkaline Phosphatase↗

Isolation and characterization of the Saccharomyces cerevisiae LPP1 gene encoding a Mg2+-independent phosphatidate phosphatase.

The DPP1-encoded diacylglycerol pyrophosphate (DGPP) phosphatase enzyme accounts for half of the Mg2+-independent phosphatidate (PA) phosphatase activity in Saccharomyces cerevisiae. The LPP1 (lipid phosphate phosphatase) gene encodes a protein that contains a novel phosphatase sequence motif found in DGPP phosphatase and in the mouse Mg2+-independent PA phosphatase. A genomic copy of the S. cerevisiae LPP1 gene was isolated and was used to construct lpp1Delta and lpp1Delta dpp1Delta mutants. A multicopy plasmid containing the LPP1 gene directed a 12.9-fold overexpression of Mg2+-independent PA phosphatase activity in the S. cerevisiae lpp1Delta dpp1Delta double mutant. The heterologous expression of the S. cerevisiae LPP1 gene in Sf-9 insect cells resulted in a 715-fold overexpression of Mg2+-independent PA phosphatase activity relative to control insect cells. The Mg2+-independent PA phosphatase activity encoded by the LPP1 gene was associated with the membrane fraction of the cell. The LPP1 gene product also exhibited lyso-PA phosphatase and DGPP phosphatase activities. The order of substrate preference was PA > lyso-PA > DGPP. Like the dpp1Delta mutant, the lpp1Delta mutant and the lpp1Delta dpp1Delta double mutant were viable and did not exhibit obvious growth defects. Biochemical analyses of lpp1Delta, dpp1Delta, and lpp1Delta dpp1Delta mutants showed that the LPP1 and DPP1 gene products encoded nearly all of the Mg2+-independent PA phosphatase and lyso-PA phosphatase activities and all of the DGPP phosphatase activity in S. cerevisiae. Moreover, the analyses of the mutants showed that the LPP1 and DPP1 gene products played a role in the regulation of phospholipid metabolism and the cellular levels of phosphatidylinositol and PA.

Animals↗

[Alkaline phosphatase in Amoeba proteus].

In free-living Amoeba proteus (strain B), 3 phosphatase were found after disc-electrophoresis of 10 microg of protein in PAGE and using 1-naphthyl phosphate as a substrate a pH 9.0. These phosphatases differed in their electrophoretic mobilities - "slow" (1-3 bands), "middle" (one band) and "fast" (one band). In addition to 1-naphthyl phosphate, "slow" phosphatases were able to hydrolyse 2-naphthyl phosphate and p-nitrophenyl phosphate. They were slightly activated by Mg2+, completely inhibited by 3 chelators (EDTA, EGTA and 1,10-phenanthroline), L-cysteine, sodium dodecyl sulfate and Fe2+, Zn2+ and Mn2+ (50 mM), considerably inactivated by orthovanadate, molybdate, phosphatase inhibitor cocktail 1, p-nitrophenyl phosphate, Na2HPO4, DL-dithiothreitol and urea and partly inhibited by H2O2, DL-phenylalanine, 2-mercaptoethanol, phosphatase inhibitor cocktail 2 and Ca2+. Imidazole, L-(+)-tartrate, okadaic acid, NaF and sulfhydryl reagents -p-(hydroxy-mercuri)benzoate and N-ethylmaleimide - had no influence on the activity of "slow" phosphatases. "Middle" and "fast" phosphatases, in contrast to "slow" ones, were not inactivated by 3 chelators. The "middle" phosphatase differed from the "fast" one by smaller resistance to urea, Ca2+, Mn2+, phosphates and H2O2 and greater resistance to dithiothreitol and L-(+)-tartrate. In addition, the "fast" phosphatase was inhibited by L-cysteine but the "middle" one was activated by it. Of 5 tested ions (Mg2+, Cu2+, Mn2+, Ca2+ and Zn2+), only Zn2+ reactivated "slow" phosphatases after their inactivation by EDTA treatment. The reactivation of apoenzyme was only partial (about 35 %). Thus, among phosphatases found in amoebae at pH 9.0, only "slow" ones are Zn-metalloenzymes and may be considered as alkaline phosphatases (EC 3.1.3.1). It still remains uncertain, to which particular phosphatase class "middle" and "fast" phosphatases (pH 9.0) may belong.

Alkaline Phosphatase↗

Endogenous basic protein phosphatases in the brain myelin.

Direct treatment of brain myelin with freezing/thawing in 0.2 M 2-mercaptoethanol stimulated the endogenous myelin phosphatase activity manyfold when 32P-labeled phosphorylase a was used as a substrate, a result indicating that an endogenous myelin phosphatase is a latent protein phosphatase. When myelin was treated with Triton X-100, this endogenous latent phosphatase activity was further stimulated 2.5-fold. Diethylaminoethyl-cellulose and Sephadex G-200 chromatography of solubilized myelin revealed a pronounced peak of protein phosphatase activity stimulated by freezing/thawing in 0.2 M 2-mercaptoethanol and with a molecular weight of 350,000, which is characteristic of latent phosphatase 2, as previously reported. Moreover, endogenous phosphorylation of myelin basic protein (MBP) in brain myelin was completely reversed by a homogeneous preparation of exogenous latent phosphatase 2. By contrast, under the same conditions, endogenous phosphorylation of brain myelin was entirely unaffected by ATP X Mg-dependent phosphatase and latent phosphatase 1, although both enzymes are potent MBP phosphatases. Together, these findings clearly indicate that a high-molecular-weight latent phosphatase, termed latent phosphatase 2, is the most predominant phosphatase responsible for dephosphorylation of brain myelin.

Animals↗

Specificity of the heat-stable protein inhibitor of the branched-chain alpha-keto acid dehydrogenase phosphatase.

A potent, heat-stable protein inhibitor of branched-chain alpha-keto acid dehydrogenase (BCKDH) phosphatase has been identified and purified to near homogeneity from bovine kidney mitochondria (Damuni, Z., Humphreys, J. S., and Reed, L. J., Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A., in press). This protein is a noncompetitive inhibitor of BCKDH phosphatase, with a Ki about 0.13 nM. By contrast, this protein inhibitor did not affect the activity of the cytosolic protein phosphatase-1 and phosphatase-2A or the mitochondrial pyruvate dehydrogenase (PDH) phosphatase at concentrations up to 10 nM. The cytosolic protein phosphatase inhibitor-1 and inhibitor-2 had no effect on the activity of BCKDH phosphatase or PDH phosphatase at concentrations up to 50 and 300 nM respectively. These results, together with previous evidence, demonstrate that BCKDH phosphatase and its inhibitor protein are distinct from the cytosolic protein phosphatase-1 and phosphatase-2A and from protein phosphatase inhibitor-1 and inhibitor-2, respectively.

Animals↗

An ultrahistochemical study of the distribution of acid and alkaline phosphatases in placentae from normal and complicated pregnancies.

The subcellular localisation of acid and alkaline phosphatase has been studied in the trophoblast of placentae from both normal and complicated pregnancies. In placentae from uncomplicated pregnancies the number of trophoblastic acid-phosphatase-containing organelles decreases progressively as gestation proceeds whilst alkaline-phosphatase activity, although abundant at term, could not be demonstrated during the early stages of pregnancy. The acid-phosphatase-containing organelles are of two types; one is a small round body which is probably a lysosome whilst the other is a multivesicular body. The alkaline phosphatase is distributed mainly on the syncytial microvilli and plasma-membrane. It is suggested that the marked lysosomal activity during early pregnancy is related to the architectural refashioning of the placenta during this period and that there are two phosphatase-linked transfer systems in the trophoblast, one dependent upon acid-phosphatase-containing multivesicular bodies and being utilised during early pregnancy and the other reliant upon alkaline phosphatase and dominating during the second half of gestation. In placentae from prolonged pregnancies there is a further decrease in trophoblastic acid phosphatase and, usually, a continuing increase in alkaline-phosphatase activity. In placentae from babies of low birth weight this trend is sometimes reversed and alkaline-phosphatase activity either disappears or its reaction product diffuses throughout the syncytium; this is usually accompanied by a marked increase in the number of acid-phosphatase-containing multivesicular bodies. Placentae from women with pre-eclampsia show no loss of alkaline-phosphatase activity but are characterised by an increased number of lysosomal bodies.

Acid Phosphatase↗

Acid and alkaline phosphatases activities in vascular smooth muscle: species differences and subcellular distribution.

1. Acid and alkaline phosphatase activities were studied in rat and dog aortic muscle using p-nitrophenyl phosphate (p-NPP) as the substrate. Alkaline phosphatase activity was quite comparable to acid phosphatase activity in rat aortic microsomes as well as further purified plasma membranes, but considerably lower than acid phosphatase activity in dog aortic membranes. 2. Subcellular distribution of acid and alkaline phosphatase activities in these vascular muscles indicated that alkaline phosphatases and a large portion of acid phosphatase activities were primarily associated with plasma membranes and the distribution of acid phosphatase showed little resemblance to that of N-acetyl-beta-glucosaminidase, a lysosomal marker enzyme. 3. The rat aortic plasmalemmal acid and alkaline phosphatase activities responded very differently to magnesium, fluoride, vanadate and EDTA. The alkaline phosphatase was more susceptible to heat inactivation than acid phosphatase. 4. These results suggest that these two phosphatases are likely to be two different enzymes in the smooth muscle plasma membranes. The implication of the present findings is discussed in relation to the alteration of these phosphatases in hypertensive vascular diseases.

Acid Phosphatase↗

NH2-terminal modification of the phosphatase 2A catalytic subunit allows functional expression in mammalian cells.

Functional expression of recombinant wild-type phosphatase 2A catalytic subunit has been unsuccessful in the past. A nine-amino-acid peptide sequence (YP-YDVPDYA) derived from the influenza hemagglutinin protein was used to modify the NH2 and/or COOH terminus of the phosphatase 2A catalytic subunit. Addition of the nine-amino-acid sequence at the NH2 terminus allowed recombinant phosphatase 2A expression as a predominantly cytosolic phosphatase 2A enzyme. The 12CA5 monoclonal antibody that recognizes the nine-amino-acid hemagglutinin peptide sequence was used to immunoprecipitate the epitope-tagged phosphatase 2A catalytic subunit. Assay of the immunoprecipitated epitope-tagged phosphatase 2A demonstrated an okadaic acid-sensitive dephosphorylation of [32P] histone H1 and [32P]myelin basic protein similar to that measured with the wild-type enzyme. Functional phosphatase activity could be demonstrated for the NH2-terminal modified phosphatase 2A catalytic subunit following transient expression in COS cells or stable expression in Rat1a cells. In contrast, the COOH-terminal-modified phosphatase 2A catalytic subunit was very poorly expressed. The NH2-, COOH-modified subunit, having the nine-amino-acid hemagglutinin peptide sequence encoded at both termini of the polypeptide, was also expressed as a functional phosphatase 2A enzyme. Thus, NH2-terminal modification of the phosphatase 2A catalytic subunit results in a functional plasmid-expressed enzyme. The unique nine-amino-acid epitope-tag sequence also provides a method to easily resolve the recombinant phosphatase 2A from the endogenous wild-type gene product and related phosphatases expressed in cells.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Protein phosphatase type-1 and type-2 catalytic subunits both bind inhibitor-2 and monoclonal immunoglobulins.

Protein phosphatases involved in cellular regulation have been categorized functionally into two major types by substrate specificity and sensitivity to protein inhibitors. In this classification type-1 phosphatases are inhibited by the heat-stable protein inhibitor-2 (I-2), whereas type-2 phosphatases are considered insensitive to inhibition by this protein. This study demonstrates that the phosphorylase phosphatase activity of both purified type-1 and type-2 catalytic subunits can be blocked by micromolar concentrations of I-2. Heparin also was more effective at inhibiting the type-1 compared to type-2 phosphatase but required thousandfold higher concentrations than I-2. The specificity of the interaction with I-2 indicates that the tertiary structures of the two phosphatase catalytic subunits closely resemble one another. However, only the type-1, not the type-2, protein phosphatase activity was neutralized by immunoglobulins affinity-purified against the Mr = 33,000 catalytic fragment of the type-1 phosphatase. Preparations of rabbit skeletal muscle type-1 phosphatase catalytic fragment and of bovine cardiac type-2 phosphatase catalytic subunit were compared by "Western" immunoblotting with sheep polyclonal and mouse monoclonal immunoglobulins raised against the respective proteins. Monoclonal anti-type-2 immunoglobulins preferentially stained the type-2 phosphatase catalytic subunit used as antigen, but displayed cross-reaction with 10-50 times more of the type-1 phosphatase. In contrast, as found with their effects on activity, sheep anti-type-1 immunoglobulins were specific; immunoblotting detected the type-1, not the type-2, catalytic protein. We conclude that the two catalytic proteins have at least one common primary structural epitope recognized by the monoclonal immunoglobulins. These data, taken together with other recent immunochemical results, support a hypothesis that this family of enzymes was derived from a common ancestral protein phosphatase catalytic subunit.

Animals↗

The modulator protein dissociates the catalytic subunit of hepatic protein phosphatase G from glycogen.

1. The phosphorylase phosphatase and glycogen-synthase phosphatase activities associated with the glycogen particles from rat liver were progressively inhibited by incubation with modulator protein. However, the phosphorylase phosphatase activity of the catalytic subunit was entirely recovered after destruction of the modulator and the regulatory subunit(s) by trypsin. 2. Inhibition of protein phosphatase G by modulator was associated with a translocation of the phosphorylase phosphatase activity (measured after incubation with trypsin) from glycogen to the soluble fraction. The degree of inhibition of phosphatase G corresponded closely to the extent to which the phosphorylase phosphatase activity was released from the glycogen particles. Incubation of glycogen-free protein phosphatase G with modulator did not change the affinity of the enzyme for added glycogen, but decreased the amount of phosphatase that could be bound to glycogen. 3. The phosphorylase phosphatase activity that was released from the glycogen particles by modulator migrated on gel filtration as a complex (Mr 106,000) of the catalytic subunit with modulator. Phosphorylase phosphatase activity could be transferred from glycogen-bound protein phosphatase G to modulator that was covalently bound to Sepharose. After elution from the column, the enzyme was identified as the free catalytic subunit (Mr 37,000).

Animals↗