Answer to Question #41539 in Biochemistry for Sumit

Question

What are the difference between acid phosphatase and alkaline phosphatase?
Is there catalytic mechanism the same?

Answer 1

The terms acid and alkaline phosphatase were first proposed by Davies (1934) to distinguish phosphatases with widely different pH optima. The difference between the two groups of enzymes is also reflected in their substrate specificity. Alkaline phosphatase will hydrolyse S-substituted monoesters of phosphorothioic acid (R-SP03H2) and not O-substituted monoesters of phosphorothioic acid (R-OPO2H2) and the reverse applies to acid phosphatase. Another major distinction lies in the activation by Mg2+ and inhibition by metal chelating agents of alkaline phosphatase and not acid phosphatase