Abstract

Treatment of homogenous human prostatic acid phosphatase (orthophosphoric-monoester phosphohydrolase (acid optimum), EC 3.1.3.2) with low concentrations of Woodward's reagent K ( N- ethyl-5-phenylisoxazolium-3′-sulfonate ) leads to a rapid loss of enzymic activity. The rate of inactivation of the enzyme is reduced in the presence of the competitive inhibitors phosphate and l-(+)-tartrate, but not in the presence of non-inhibitory D-(−)-tartrate. Measurement of the ethylamine produced upon hydrolysis of enzyme modified in the presence of d- and of l-tartrate permitted the quantitative estimation of the number of carboxylic acid residues at the active site. The data indicate that two carboxyl groups per (dimeric) enzyme molecule are essential for catalytic activity. It is proposed that one function of the active site carboxyl group may be to protonate the leaving alcohol or phenol portion of the phosphomonoester substrate during the formation of the covalent phosphoenzyme intermediate.

Talk to us

Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have

Schedule a call

Disclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.