Acid phosphatase (EC 3.1.3.2, acid phosphomonoesterase', phosphomonoesterase, glycerophosphatase, acid monophosphatase, acid phosphohydrolase, acid phosphomonoester hydrolase, uteroferrin, acid nucleoside diphosphate phosphatase, orthophosphoric-monoester phosphohydrolase (acid optimum), systematic name phosphate-monoester phosphohydrolase (acid optimum)) is an enzyme that frees attached phosphoryl groups from other molecules during
digestion
Digestion is the breakdown of large insoluble food molecules into small water-soluble food molecules so that they can be absorbed into the watery blood plasma. In certain organisms, these smaller substances are absorbed through the small intest ...
. It can be further classified as a
phosphomonoesterase. It is stored in
lysosome
A lysosome () is a membrane-bound organelle found in many animal cells. They are spherical vesicles that contain hydrolytic enzymes that can break down many kinds of biomolecules. A lysosome has a specific composition, of both its membrane pr ...
s and functions when these fuse with
endosome
Endosomes are a collection of intracellular sorting organelles in eukaryotic cells. They are parts of endocytic membrane transport pathway originating from the trans Golgi network. Molecules or ligands internalized from the plasma membrane can ...
s, which are acidified while they function; therefore, it has an acid
pH optimum.
This enzyme is present in many animal and plant species.
Different forms of acid phosphatase are found in different
organs, 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.
It's also used as a cytogenetic marker to distinguish the two different lineages of Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia(ALL) : B-ALL ( a leukemia of B Lymphocytes ) is acid-phosphatase negative , T-ALL ( originating instead from T Lymphocytes ) is acid-phosphatase positive .
Acid phosphatase catalyzes the following reaction at an optimal acidic pH (below 7):
: a phosphate monoester + H
2O = an alcohol + phosphate
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 root
Cluster roots, also known as proteoid roots, are plant roots that form clusters of closely spaced short lateral rootlets. They may form a two- to five-centimetre-thick mat just beneath the leaf litter. They enhance nutrient uptake, possibly by chem ...
s, exude
carboxylate
In organic chemistry, a carboxylate is the conjugate base of a carboxylic acid, (or ). It is an ion with negative charge.
Carboxylate salts are salts that have the general formula , where M is a metal and ''n'' is 1, 2,...; ''carboxylat ...
s that perform acid phosphatase activity, helping to mobilise
phosphorus
Phosphorus is a chemical element with the symbol P and atomic number 15. Elemental phosphorus exists in two major forms, white phosphorus and red phosphorus, but because it is highly reactive, phosphorus is never found as a free element on Ear ...
in nutrient-deficient soils.
Certain bacteria, such as ''Nocardia'', can degrade this enzyme and utilize it as a carbon source.
Bone acid phosphatase
Tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase
Tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase (TRAP or TRAPase), also called acid phosphatase 5, tartrate resistant (ACP5), is a glycosylated monomeric metalloprotein enzyme expressed in mammals. It has a molecular weight of approximately 35kDa, a basic iso ...
may be used as a biochemical marker of
osteoclast
An osteoclast () is a type of bone cell that breaks down bone tissue. This function is critical in the maintenance, repair, and remodeling of bones of the vertebral skeleton. The osteoclast disassembles and digests the composite of hydrated pro ...
function during the process of
bone resorption
Bone resorption is resorption of bone tissue, that is, the process by which osteoclasts break down the tissue in bones and release the minerals, resulting in a transfer of calcium from bone tissue to the blood.
The osteoclasts are multi-nuclea ...
.
Genes
The following genes encode the polypeptide components for various acid phosphatase isoenzymes.
*
ACP1
Low molecular weight phosphotyrosine protein phosphatase is an enzyme that in humans is encoded by the ''ACP1'' gene.
The product of this gene belongs to the phosphotyrosine protein phosphatase family of proteins. It functions as an acid phospha ...
*
ACP2
*
ACPP
Prostatic acid phosphatase (PAP), also prostatic specific acid phosphatase (PSAP), is an enzyme produced by the prostate. It may be found in increased amounts in men who have prostate cancer or other diseases.
The highest levels of acid phosphat ...
(
ACP3
Prostatic acid phosphatase (PAP), also prostatic specific acid phosphatase (PSAP), is an enzyme produced by the prostate. It may be found in increased amounts in men who have prostate cancer or other diseases.
The highest levels of acid phosphata ...
),
Prostatic acid phosphatase
Prostatic acid phosphatase (PAP), also prostatic specific acid phosphatase (PSAP), is an enzyme produced by the prostate. It may be found in increased amounts in men who have prostate cancer or other diseases.
The highest levels of acid phosphata ...
*
ACP5
Tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase (TRAP or TRAPase), also called acid phosphatase 5, tartrate resistant (ACP5), is a glycosylated monomeric metalloprotein enzyme expressed in mammals. It has a molecular weight of approximately 35kDa, a basic iso ...
,
Tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase
Tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase (TRAP or TRAPase), also called acid phosphatase 5, tartrate resistant (ACP5), is a glycosylated monomeric metalloprotein enzyme expressed in mammals. It has a molecular weight of approximately 35kDa, a basic iso ...
*
ACP6
Lysophosphatidic acid phosphatase type 6 is an acid phosphatase enzyme that is encoded in humans by the ''ACP6'' gene.
It acts as a phosphomonoesterase at low pHs. It is responsible for the hydrolysis of Lysophosphatidic acids (LPAs) to thei ...
*
ACPT,
Testicular acid phosphatase
A testicle or testis (plural testes) is the male reproductive gland or gonad in all bilaterians, including humans. It is homologous to the female ovary. The functions of the testes are to produce both sperm and androgens, primarily testost ...
*
Tissue acid phosphatase
Tissue may refer to:
Biology
* Tissue (biology), an ensemble of similar (or dissimilar in structure but same in origin) cells that together carry out a specific function
* ''Triphosa haesitata'', a species of geometer moth ("tissue moth") found in ...
, or
Lysosomal acid phosphatase
A lysosome () is a membrane-bound organelle found in many animal cells. They are spherical vesicles that contain hydrolytic enzymes that can break down many kinds of biomolecules. A lysosome has a specific composition, of both its membrane prote ...
See also
*
Alkaline phosphatase
References
External links
*
*
{{DEFAULTSORT:Acid Phosphatase
EC 3.1.3.2
Biochemistry