Acid phosphatase
Encyclopedia
Acid phosphatase is a phosphatase
, a type of enzyme, used to free attached phosphate groups from other molecules during digestion
. It is basically a phosphomonoesterase. It is stored in lysosome
s and functions when these fuse with endosome
s, which are acidified while they function; therefore, it has an acid pH
optimum.
Different forms of acid phosphatase are found in different organ
s, and their serum
levels are used to evaluate the success of the surgical treatment of prostate cancer
. In the past, they were also used to diagnose this type of cancer.
Acid phosphatase catalyzes the following reaction at an optimal pH below 7:
Orthophosphoric monoester + H2O → alcohol + H3PO4
Phosphatase enzymes are also used by soil microorganisms to access organically bound phosphate nutrients. An assay on the rates of activity of these enzymes may be used to ascertain biological demand for phosphates in the soil.
Some plant roots, especially cluster roots, exude carboxylates that perform acid phosphatase activity, helping to mobilise phosphorus
in nutrient-deficient soils.
Phosphatase
A phosphatase is an enzyme that removes a phosphate group from its substrate by hydrolysing phosphoric acid monoesters into a phosphate ion and a molecule with a free hydroxyl group . This action is directly opposite to that of phosphorylases and kinases, which attach phosphate groups to their...
, a type of enzyme, used to free attached phosphate groups from other molecules during digestion
Digestion
Digestion is the mechanical and chemical breakdown of food into smaller components that are more easily absorbed into a blood stream, for instance. Digestion is a form of catabolism: a breakdown of large food molecules to smaller ones....
. It is basically a phosphomonoesterase. It is stored in lysosome
Lysosome
thumb|350px|Schematic of typical animal cell, showing subcellular components. [[Organelle]]s: [[nucleoli]] [[cell nucleus|nucleus]] [[ribosomes]] [[vesicle |vesicle]] rough [[endoplasmic reticulum]]...
s and functions when these fuse with endosome
Endosome
In biology, an endosome is a membrane-bound compartment inside eukaryotic cells. It is a compartment of the endocytic membrane transport pathway from the plasma membrane to the lysosome. Molecules internalized from the plasma membrane can follow this pathway all the way to lysosomes for...
s, which are acidified while they function; therefore, it has an acid pH
PH
In chemistry, pH is a measure of the acidity or basicity of an aqueous solution. Pure water is said to be neutral, with a pH close to 7.0 at . Solutions with a pH less than 7 are said to be acidic and solutions with a pH greater than 7 are basic or alkaline...
optimum.
Different forms of acid phosphatase are found in different organ
Organ (anatomy)
In biology, an organ is a collection of tissues joined in structural unit to serve a common function. Usually there is a main tissue and sporadic tissues . The main tissue is the one that is unique for the specific organ. For example, main tissue in the heart is the myocardium, while sporadic are...
s, and their serum
Blood plasma
Blood plasma is the straw-colored liquid component of blood in which the blood cells in whole blood are normally suspended. It makes up about 55% of the total blood volume. It is the intravascular fluid part of extracellular fluid...
levels are used to evaluate the success of the surgical treatment of prostate cancer
Prostate cancer
Prostate cancer is a form of cancer that develops in the prostate, a gland in the male reproductive system. Most prostate cancers are slow growing; however, there are cases of aggressive prostate cancers. The cancer cells may metastasize from the prostate to other parts of the body, particularly...
. In the past, they were also used to diagnose this type of cancer.
Acid phosphatase catalyzes the following reaction at an optimal pH below 7:
Orthophosphoric monoester + H2O → alcohol + H3PO4
Phosphatase enzymes are also used by soil microorganisms to access organically bound phosphate nutrients. An assay on the rates of activity of these enzymes may be used to ascertain biological demand for phosphates in the soil.
Some plant roots, especially cluster roots, exude carboxylates that perform acid phosphatase activity, helping to mobilise phosphorus
Phosphorus
Phosphorus is the chemical element that has the symbol P and atomic number 15. A multivalent nonmetal of the nitrogen group, phosphorus as a mineral is almost always present in its maximally oxidized state, as inorganic phosphate rocks...
in nutrient-deficient soils.
Genes
- ACP1ACP1Low molecular weight phosphotyrosine protein phosphatase is an enzyme that in humans is encoded by the ACP1 gene.-Interactions:ACP1 has been shown to interact with EPH receptor A2 and EPH receptor B1.-Further reading:...
- ACP2ACP2Lysosomal acid phosphatase is an enzyme that in humans is encoded by the ACP2 gene.Lysosomal acid phosphatase is composed of two subunits, alpha and beta, and is chemically and genetically distinct from red cell acid phosphatase. Lysosomal acid phosphatase 2 is a member of a family of distinct...
- ACPP (ACP3), Prostatic acid phosphataseProstatic acid phosphataseProstatic acid phosphatase , also prostatic specific acid phosphatase , is an enzyme produced by the prostate. It may be found in increased amounts in men who have prostate cancer or other diseases....
- ACP5, Tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase
- ACP6ACP6Lysophosphatidic acid phosphatase type 6 is an enzyme that in humans is encoded by the ACP6 gene.-Interactions:ACP6 has been shown to interact with Integrin-linked kinase.-Further reading:...
- ACPT, Testicular acid phosphatase
- Tissue acid phosphatase, or Lysosomal acid phosphatase