Phosphotyrosyl-specific protein phosphatase activity of a bovine skeletal acid phosphatase isoenzyme. Comparison with the phosphotyrosyl protein phosphatase activity of skeletal alkaline phosphatase

A partially purified bovine cortical bone acid phosphatase, which shared similar characteristics with a class of acid phosphatase known as tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase, was found to dephosphorylate phosphotyrosine and phosphotyrosyl proteins, with little activity toward other phosphoamino acids or phosphoseryl histones. The pH optimum was about 5.5 with p-nitrophenyl phosphate as substrate but was about 6.0 with phosphotyrosine and about 7.0 with phosphotyrosyl histones. The apparent Km values for phosphotyrosyl histones (at pH 7.0) and phosphotyrosine (at pH 5.5) were about 300 nM phosphate group and 0.6 mM, respectively, The p-nitrophenyl phosphatase, phosphotyrosine phosphatase, and phosphotyrosyl protein phosphatase activities appear to be a single protein since these activities could not be separated by Sephacryl S-200, CM-Sepharose, or cellulose phosphate chromatographies, he ratio of these activities remained relatively constant throughout the purification procedure, each of these activities exhibited similar thermal stabilities and similar sensitivities to various effectors, and phosphotyrosine and p-nitrophenyl phosphate appeared to be alternative substrates for the acid phosphatase. Skeletal alkaline phosphatase was also capable of dephosphorylating phosphotyrosyl histones at pH 7.0, but the activity of that enzyme was about 20 times greater at pH 9.0 than at pH 7.0. Furthermore, the affinity of skeletal alkaline phosphatase for phosphotyrosyl proteins was low (estimated to be 0.2-0.4 mM), and its protein phosphatase activity was not specific for phosphotyrosyl proteins, since it also dephosphorylated phosphoseryl histones. In summary, these data suggested that skeletal acid phosphatase, rather than skeletal alkaline phosphatase, may act as phosphotyrosyl protein phosphatase under physiologically relevant conditions.     

Purification and characterization of an acid phosphatase that displays phosphotyrosyl-protein phosphatase activity from bovine cortical bone matrix

An acid phosphatase activity that displayed phosphotyrosyl-protein phosphatase has been purified from bovine cortical bone matrix to apparent homogeneity. The overall yield of the enzyme activity was greater than 25%, and overall purification was approximately 2000-fold with a specific activity of 8.15 mumol of p-nitrophenyl phosphate hydrolyzed per min/mg of protein at pH 5.5 and 37 degrees C. The purified enzyme was judged to be purified based on its appearance as a single protein band on sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (silver staining technique). The enzyme could be classified as a band 5-type tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase isoenzyme. The apparent molecular weight of this enzyme activity was determined to be 34,600 by gel filtration and 32,500 by sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis in the presence of reducing agent, indicating that the active enzyme is a single polypeptide chain. Kinetic evaluations revealed that the acid phosphatase activity appeared to catalyze its reaction by a pseudo Uni Bi hydrolytic two-step transfer reaction mechanism and was competitively inhibited by transition state analogs of Pi. The enzyme activity was also sensitive to reducing agents and several divalent metal ions. Substrate specificity evaluation showed that this purified bovine skeletal acid phosphatase was capable of hydrolyzing nucleotide tri- and diphosphates, phosphotyrosine, and phosphotyrosyl histones, but not nucleotide monophosphates, phosphoserine, phosphothreonine, phosphoseryl histones, or low molecular weight phosphoryl esters. Further examination of the phosphotyrosyl-protein phosphatase activity indicated that the optimal pH at a fixed substrate concentration (50 nM phosphohistones) for this activity was 7.0. Kinetic analysis of the phosphotyrosyl-protein phosphatase activity indicated that the purified enzyme had an apparent Vmax of approximately 60 nmol of [32P]phosphate hydrolyzed from [32P]phosphotyrosyl histones per min/mg of protein at pH 7.0 and an apparent Km for phosphotyrosyl proteins of approximately 450 nM phosphate group. In summary, the results of these studies represent the first purification of a skeletal acid phosphatase to apparent homogeneity. Our observation that this purified bovine bone matrix acid phosphatase was able to dephosphorylate phosphotyrosyl proteins at neutral pH is consistent with our suggestion that this enzyme may function as a phosphotyrosyl-protein phosphatase in vivo.     

The 18 kDa cytosolic acid phosphatase from bovine liver has phosphotyrosine phosphatase activity on the autophosphorylated epidermal growth factor receptor

In this paper we demonstrate that the cytosofic low-M_r acid phosphatase purified from bovine liver has phosphotyrosine protein phosphatase acitivity on ³²P-autophosphorylated epidermal growth factor (EGF) receptor. This activity was significantly inhibited by orthovanadate and p-hydroxymercuribenzoate; the latter result indicates that free sulfhydryl groups are required for phosphotyrosine phosphatase activity. The enzyme was active in a broad pH range, with maximum activity between pH 5.5 and 7.5. The apparent K_m for ³²P-EGF receptor dephosphorylation was 4 nM. The enzyme appeared to be specific for phosphotyrosine in that it dephosphorylated the autophosphorylated EGF receptor and L-phosphotyrosine, but not ³²P-Ser-casein, L-phosphoserine or L-phosphothreonine. These data suggest that the cytosolic low-M_r acid phosphatase might play a regulatory role in EGF receptor-dependent transmembrane signalling.     

An ecto-protein tyrosine phosphatase of Entamoeba histolytica induces cellular detachment by disruption of actin filaments in HeLa cells

Actin cytoskeleton disruption in host cells has been demonstrated for PTPases from pathogenic microorganisms. In this work, we analysed whether the secreted acid phosphatase from Entamoeba histolytica has phosphotyrosine phosphatase activity and the possibility that this activity may participate in damaging host cells. The secreted acid phosphatase of E. histolytica, which catalyses p-nitrophenyl phosphate hydrolysis at acid pH values, was found to have phosphotyrosine phosphatase activity. The enzymatic properties of phosphotyrosine phosphatase and acid phosphatase were virtually identical and included: Km values of 10 x 10(-4) M, no requirement for divalent cations, and sensitivity to molybdate, vanadate, and tungstate. The phosphotyrosyl phosphatase activity caused significant levels of cell rounding and detachment correlating with disruption of the actin stress fibres in HeLa cells. Thus, our data suggest that secreted phosphotyrosine phosphatase could play a cytotoxic role during amoebic infection.     

Polyamine-mediated turnover of ornithine decarboxylase in Chinese-hamster ovary cells.

The major secreted isoenzyme of human prostatic acid phosphatase (PAcP) (EC 3.1.3.2), which catalyses p-nitrophenyl phosphate (PNPP) hydrolysis at acid pH values, was found to have phosphotyrosyl protein phosphatase activity since it dephosphorylated three different phosphotyrosine-containing protein substrates. Several lines of evidence are presented to show that the phosphotyrosyl phosphatase and PAcP are the same enzyme. A highly purified PAcP enzyme preparation which contains a single N-terminal peptide sequence was used to test for the phosphotyrosyl phosphatase activity. Both activities comigrated during gel filtration by high performance liquid chromatography. Phosphotyrosyl phosphatase activity and PNPP acid phosphatase activity exhibited similar sensitivities to different effectors. Both phosphatase activities showed the same thermal stability. Specific anti-PAcP antibody reacted to the same extent with both phosphatase activities. PNPP acid phosphatase activity was competitively inhibited by the phosphotyrosyl phosphatase substrate. To characterize further the phosphotyrosyl phosphatase activity, the Km values using different phosphoprotein substrates were determined. The apparent Km values for phosphorylated angiotensin II, anti-pp60src immunoglobulin G and casein were in the nM range for phosphotyrosine residues, which was about 50-fold lower than the Km for phosphoserine residues in casein.     

Purification and characterization of a phosphotyrosyl-protein phosphatase from wheat seedlings

A neutral phosphatase which catalyzes the hydrolysis of p-nitrophenylphosphate has been purified to homogeneity from wheat seedlings. The enzyme is a monomeric glycoprotein exhibiting a molecular weight of 35,000, frictional ratio of 1.22, Stokes' radius of 260 nm, and sedimentation coefficient of 3.2 S. That the enzyme is a glycoprotein is surmised from its chromatographic property on Concanavalin A-Sepharose column. An examination of the substrate specificity indicates that the enzyme exhibits a preference for phosphotyrosine over a number of phosphocompounds, including p-nitrophenylphosphate and several glycolytic intermediates. Both phosphoserine and phosphothreonine are not hydrolyzed by the enzyme. The phosphatase activity is not affected by high concentrations of chelating agents and does not require metal ions. Molybdate, orthovanadate, Zn2+, and Hg2+ are all potent inhibitors of the phosphatase activity. The ability of the phosphatase to dephosphorylate protein phosphotyrosine has been investigated. [32P-Tyr]poly(Glu,Tyr)n, [32P-Tyr]alkylated bovine serum albumin, [32P-Tyr]angiotensin-I, and [32P-Tyr]band 3 (from human erythrocyte) are all substrates of the phosphatase. On the other hand, the enzyme has no activity toward protein phosphoserine and phosphothreonine. Our result further indicates that the neutral phosphatase is distinct from the wheat germ acid phosphatase. The latter enzyme is found to dephosphorylate phosphotyrosyl as well as phosphoseryl and phosphothreonyl groups in proteins. In light of the many similarities in properties to phosphotyrosyl protein phosphatases isolated from several sources, it is suggested that the wheat seedling phosphatase may participate in cellular regulation involving protein tyrosine phosphorylation.     

Induction of acid phosphatase activity during germination of maize (Zea mays) seeds.

Acid phosphatase activity (orthophosphoric-monoester phosphohydrolase, EC 3.1.3.2) increased during the first 24 h of maize (Zea mays) seed germination. The enzyme displayed a pH optimum of 4.5-5.5. Catalytic activity in vitro displayed a linear time course (60 min) and reached its half maximum value at 0.47 mM p-nitrophenyl phosphate (pNPP). Phosphatase activity towards phosphoamino acids was greatest for phosphotyrosine. The phosphatase activity was strongly inhibited by ammonium molybdate, vanadate and NaF and did not require divalent cations for the catalysis. The temperature optimum for pNPP hydrolysis was 37 degrees C. Under the same conditions, no enzyme activity was detected with phytic acid as substrate. Western blotting of total homogenates during seed germination revealed proteins/polypeptides that were phosphorylated on tyrosine residues; a protein of approximately 14 kDa is potentially a major biological substrate for the phosphatase activity. The results presented in this study suggest that the acid phosphatase characterized under the tested conditions is a member of the phosphotyrosine phosphatase family.     

Characterization of a phosphotyrosyl protein phosphatase activity associated with a phosphoseryl protein phosphatase of Mr = 95,000 from bovine heart

A cytosolic phosphoprotein phosphatase of Mr = 95,000 purified from bovine cardiac muscle, which contains a catalytic subunit of Mr = 35,000, is known to be associated with a Mg2+-activated p-nitrophenyl phosphatase activity. We have found that the enzyme preparation is also active toward phosphotyrosyl-IgG and -casein phosphorylated by pp60v-src, the transforming gene product of Rous sarcoma virus. The properties of this phosphotyrosyl protein phosphatase activity closely resemble those of the p-nitrophenyl phosphatase activity but sharply differ from those of the phosphorylase phosphatase activity. Comparative studies of the activities of the Mr = 95,000 phosphatase, bovine kidney alkaline phosphatase, and ATP X Mg-dependent phosphatase toward phosphoseryl, phosphothreonyl, and phosphotyrosyl proteins and p-nitrophenyl phosphate under various conditions have been carried out. The results indicate that the Mr = 95,000 enzyme exhibits higher activity toward phosphoseryl and phosphothreonyl proteins than toward phosphotyrosyl proteins, while the kidney alkaline phosphatase preferentially dephosphorylates phosphotyrosyl proteins. ATP X Mg-dependent phosphatase is inactive toward phosphotyrosyl proteins.     

A major phosphotyrosyl-protein phosphatase from bovine heart is associated with a low-molecular-weight acid phosphatase

The phosphotyrosyl [Tyr(P)]-immunoglobulin G (IgG) phosphatase activity in the extracts of bovine heart, bovine brain, human kidney, and rabbit liver can be separated by DEAE-cellulose at neutral pH into two fractions. The unbound fraction exhibits a higher activity at acidic than neutral pH while the reverse is true for the bound fraction. Of all tissues examined, the Tyr(P)-IgG phosphatase activity in the unbound fraction measured at pH 5.0 is higher than that in the bound fraction measured at pH 7.2. The acid Tyr(P)-IgG phosphatase activity has been extensively purified from bovine heart. It copurified with an acid phosphatase activity (p-nitrophenyl phosphate (PNPP) as a substrate) throughout the purification procedure. These two activities coelute from various ion-exchange and gel filtration chromatographies and comigrate on polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis, indicating that they reside on the same protein molecule. The phosphatase has a Mr = 15,000 by gel filtration and exhibits an optimum between pH 5.0 and 6.0 when either Tyr(P)-IgG-casein or PNPP is the substrate. It is highly specific for Tyr(P)-protein with little activities toward phosphoseryl [Ser(P)]- or phosphothreonyl [Thr(P)]-protein. The enzyme activities toward Tyr(P)-casein and PNPP are strongly inhibited by microM molybdate and vanadate but insensitive to inhibition by L(+)-tartrate, NaF, or Zn2+. The molecular and catalytic properties of the acid Tyr(P)-protein phosphatase purified from bovine heart are very similar to those of the low-molecular-weight acid phosphatases of Mr = 14,000 previously identified and purified from the cytosolic fraction of human liver, placenta, and other animal tissues.     

Phosphotyrosine phosphatase: a novel phosphatase specific for phosphotyrosine, 2'-AMP and p-nitrophenylphosphate in rat brain

A unique phosphatase that selectively hydrolyzed phosphotyrosine and 2'-AMP at alkaline pH and p-nitrophenylphosphate at neutral pH was isolated from a cytosolic fraction of rat brain. The purified enzyme appeared homogenous on SDS-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and its molecular weight was estimated to be 42,000. The molecular weight of the native enzyme was 45,000 as determined by molecular sieve chromatography. These findings indicate that the native enzyme is a monomer protein. At pH 8.6, the enzyme hydrolyzed L-phosphotyrosine, D-phosphotyrosine, 2'-AMP, p-nitrophenylphosphate, 3'-AMP, 2'-GMP, and 3'-GMP; the ratio of its activities with these substrates was 100:96:115:68:39:25:16. Its Km values for L-phosphotyrosine, 2'-AMP, and p-nitrophenylphosphate were 0.8 X 10(-4) M, 1.4 X 10(-4) M, and 1.7 X 10(-4) M, respectively. At pH 7.4, the enzyme hydrolyzed p-nitrophenylphosphate, L-phosphotyrosine, and D-phosphotyrosine; the ratio of its activities with these compounds was 100:17:17, and its Km values for L-phosphotyrosine and p-nitrophenylphosphate were 1.8 X 10(-4) M and 2.0 X 10(-4) M, respectively. The enzyme activity was dependent on Mn2+ or Mg2+, and was strongly inhibited by 5'-nucleotides, pyrophosphate, and Zn2+. The enzyme was not sensitive to inhibitors of some well-characterized phosphatases such as NaF, molybdate, L(+)tartrate, tetramisole, vanadate, and lithium salt. The physiological role of the enzyme is discussed with respect to its activities toward phosphotyrosine, 2'-AMP, and p-nitrophenylphosphate.     

Calcineurin-mediated dephosphorylation of the human placental membrane receptor for epidermal growth factor urogastrone

The findings of our work were 2-fold: (1) calcineurin (from bovine brain) can catalyze the complete dephosphorylation of the phosphotyrosine and phosphoserine residues in the human placental receptor for epidermal growth factor urogastrone (EGF-URO), and (2) the major calmodulin-binding protein of human placental membranes is a calcineurin-related protein. In terms of its metal ion dependence (Ni2+ greater than Mn2+ greater than Co2+), its calmodulin dependence, and its sensitivity to inhibitors (Zn2+, fluoride, orthovanadate), the phosphotyrosyl protein phosphatase activity of calcineurin, using the EGF-URO receptor as substrate, paralleled the enzyme activity measured with p-nitrophenyl phosphate (PNPP) as a substrate. These characteristics distinguish calcineurin from other classes of protein phosphotyrosyl phosphatases. Calcineurin purified from placental membranes was similar to, if not identical with, bovine brain calcineurin in terms of enzymatic specific activity toward PNPP, subunit electrophoretic mobilities, and immunological cross-reactivity. The enzymatic properties and comparative abundance of calcineurin in the placenta membranes suggest that this enzyme may play an important role in regulating the phosphorylation state of those receptors (e.g., for EGF-URO or insulin) also known to be present in the membranes.     

Regulation of protein phosphatase activity by regucalcin localization in rat liver nuclei.

The regulatory role of regucalcin on protein phosphatase activity in isolated rat liver nuclei was investigated. Phosphatase activity toward phosphotyrosine and phosphoserine was significantly increased by the addition of CaCl(2) (10(-5) and 10(-4) M) in the enzyme reaction mixture. Trifluoperazine (25 and 50 microM), an antagonist of calmodulin, significantly inhibited protein phosphatase activity toward phosphoserine, while it had no effect on the enzyme activity toward phosphotysine and phosphothreonine. Cyclosporin A (10(-6)-10(-4) M), an inhibitor of Ca(2+)/calmodulin-dependent protein phosphatase activity toward phosphoserine, but not phosphotyrosine and phosphoserine. Thus, Ca(2+)/calmodulin-dependent phosphatases were present in liver nuclei. Regucalcin (0.25 and 0.5 microM) had an inhibitory effect on liver nuclear phosphatase activity toward phosphotyrosine, phosphoserine, and phosphothreonine. The presence of anti-regucalcin monoclonal antibody (25 and 50 ng/ml) in the enzyme reaction mixture caused a significant elevation of nuclear phosphatase activity toward three phosphoaminoacids. An analysis with sodium sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis suggested a possibility of localization of regucalcin in liver nuclei. Moreover, regucalcin was determined in liver nuclei using enzyme-linked immunoadsorbent assay. The present study demonstrates that the endogenous regucalcin inhibits phosphatase activity in the liver nuclei.     

Purification and characterisation of an acid phosphatase with phytase activity from Mucor hiemalis Wehmer

An acid phosphatase with phytase activity, produced by Mucor hiemalis Wehmer, was purified to homogeneity by a combination of anion exchange, gel filtration and hydrophobic interaction chromatography. The monomeric, glycosylated enzyme displayed maximum activity at 55 degrees C and pH 5.0-5.5. When compared to commercialised products, the enzyme is more thermostable (80 degrees C, 5min), displays a broader pH versus activity profile and greater stability under simulated digestive tract conditions. Unlike commercial phytases, the Mucor enzyme should retain some activity in the small intestine as well as in the stomach, facilitating a longer duration of action and hence more extensive substrate hydrolysis. Substrate specificity studies and protein database similarity searching using mass spectrometry-derived sequence data indicate that the enzyme is an acid phosphatase with activity on phytate. Cocktails containing acid phosphatases in combination with true phytases have been shown to promote more extensive phytate degradation than do true phytases alone. This, coupled to the enzyme's functionally relevant physicochemical characteristics, suggests its likely suitability for inclusion in second generation phytase cocktails for application in animal feed.     

MDP-1: A novel eukaryotic magnesium-dependent phosphatase

We report here the purification, cloning, expression, and characterization of a novel phosphatase, MDP-1. In the course of investigating the reported acid phosphatase activity of carbonic anhydrase III preparations, several discrete phosphatases were discerned. One of these, a magnesium-dependent species of 18.6 kDa, was purified to homogeneity and yielded several peptide sequences from which the parent gene was identified by database searching. Although orthologous genes were identified in fungi and plants as well as mammalian species, there was no apparent homology to any known family of phosphatases. The enzyme was expressed in Escherichia coli with a fusion tag and purified by affinity methods. The recombinant enzyme showed magnesium-dependent acid phosphatase activity comparable to the originally isolated rabbit protein. The enzyme catalyzes the rapid hydrolysis of p-nitrophenyl phosphate, ribose-5-phosphate, and phosphotyrosine. The selectivity for phosphotyrosine over phosphoserine or phosphothreonine is considerable, but the enzyme did not show activity toward five phosphotyrosine-containing peptides. None of the various substrates assayed (including various nucleotide, sugar, amino acid and peptide phosphates, phosphoinositides, and phosphodiesters) exhibited K(M) values lower than 1 mM, and many showed negligible rates of hydrolysis. The enzyme is inhibited by vanadate and fluoride but not by azide, cyanide, calcium, lithium, or tartaric acid. Chemical labeling, refolding, dialysis, and mutagenesis experiments suggest that the enzymatic mechanism is not dependent on cysteine, histidine, or nonmagnesium metal ions. In recognition of these observations, the enzyme has been given the name magnesium-dependent phosphatase-1 (MDP-1).     

Low molecular weight acid phosphatase/phosphotyrosyl protein phosphatase in the developing chick brain: partial characterization and levels during development.

Low molecular weight acid phosphatase/phosphotyrosyl protein phosphatase is largely expressed in chick brain tissue during development. The enzyme was purified from brain extract prepared from 19-day-old chick embryos and from adult chickens using ammonium sulfate fractionation, gel filtration on Sephadex G-75 and two DEAE-Cellulose ion-exchange chromatography steps. The purified enzymes from embryo and adult chick brains show identical molecular weight values (about 18-20 kDa) and biochemical and structural properties such as substrate specificity, sensitivity to inhibitors, and number of free reactive sulphydryl groups. These data suggest that they are the same enzyme protein. Although the total acid phosphatase activity does not change appreciably during development, the activity associated with the low molecular weight acid phosphatase/phosphotyrosyl protein phosphatase markedly increases after birth and reaches the adult values within the first week of life. Taken together, our results suggest an involvement of the low molecular weight acid phosphatase/phosphotyrosyl protein phosphatase in postnatal development and maturation of chick brain tissue. The variations in tyrosine phosphorylation profile of chick brain polypeptides analyzed by Western blotting at the same developmental stages are also reported.     

Characterization of the phosphotyrosyl protein phosphatase activity of calmodulin-dependent protein phosphatase

Calmodulin-dependent protein phosphatase from bovine brain and heart was assayed for phosphotyrosine and phosphoserine phosphatase activity using several substrates: 1) smooth muscle myosin light chain (LC20) phosphorylated on tyrosine or serine residues, 2) angiotensin I phosphorylated on tyrosine, and 3) synthetic phosphotyrosine- or phosphoserine-containing peptides with amino acid sequences patterned after the autophosphorylation site in Type II regulatory subunit of the cAMP-dependent protein kinase. The phosphatase was activated by Ni2+ and Mn2+, and stimulated further by calmodulin. In the presence of Ni2+ and calmodulin, it exhibited similar kinetic constants for the dephosphorylation of phosphotyrosyl LC20 (Km = 0.9 microM, and Vmax = 350 nmol/min/mg) and phosphoseryl LC20 (Km = 2.6 microM, Vmax = 690 nmol/min/mg). Dephosphorylation of phosphotyrosyl LC20 was inhibited by phosphoseryl LC20 with an apparent Ki of 2 microM. Compared to the reactions with phosphotyrosyl LC20 as the substrate, reactions with phosphotyrosine-containing oligopeptides exhibited slightly higher Km and lower Vmax values. The reaction with the phosphoseryl peptide based on the Type II regulatory subunit sequence exhibited a slightly higher Km (23 microM), but a much higher Vmax (4400 nmol/min/mg) than that with its phosphotyrosine-containing counterpart. Micromolar concentrations of Zn2+ inhibited the phosphatase activity; vanadate was less potent, and 25 mM NaF was ineffective. The study provides quantitative data to serve as a basis for comparing the ability of the calmodulin-dependent protein phosphatase to act on phosphotyrosine- and phosphoserine-containing substrates.     

Characterization of a tyrosine phosphatase activity in the oogenesis of Periplaneta americana

In this work, phosphatase activity was characterized in the ovary and the haemolymph of Periplaneta americana. The optimum pH for these activities was 4.0, and a temperature of 44 degrees C was ideal for the maximal enzyme activity. The phosphatase activities were inhibited by NaF, sodium tartrate, Pi, sodium orthovanadate, and ammonium molybdate. The ovarian phosphatase activity at pH 4.0 was almost exclusive against phosphotyrosine, with little or no effect on the residues of phosphoserine or phosphothreonine. These results indicate that this phosphatase activity is due to the presence of an acid tyrosine phosphatase. The phosphatase activities of acid extracts from P. americana ovaries (OEX) and an acid extract from P. americana haemolymph (HEX) were analyzed in non-denaturant gel electrophoresis using an analog substrate beta-naphtyl phosphate. The gel revealed two bands with phosphatase activity in the ovary and one band in the haemolymph; these bands were excised and submitted to a 10% SDS-PAGE showing a single 70-kDa polypeptide in both samples. Histochemistry of the ovary with alpha-naphtyl phosphate for localization of acid phosphatase activity showed mainly labeling associated to the oocyte peripheral vesicles, basal lamina, and between follicle cells. Electron microscopy analysis showed that acid phosphatase was localized in small peripheral vesicles in the oocyte, but not inside yolk granules. The possible role of this phosphatase during oogenesis and embryogenesis is also discussed in this article.     

Purification and characterization of acid phosphatase from cotyledons of germinating soybean seeds

Soybean acid phosphatase (orthophosphoric-monoester phosphohydrolase, EC 3.1.3.2) was completely separated from phytase (EC 3.1.3.8) isolated from cotyledons of germinating seeds and purified to homogeneity. A four-step purification regimen consisting of ammonium sulfate fractionation, and ion-exchange, affinity, and chromatofocusing gel chromatographies was employed to achieve a homogeneous preparation. Acid phosphatase activity appeared as a major band of the three forms of acid phosphatase identified on native gels. The purified enzyme had a molecular weight of 53,000 when electrophoresed on 8% sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and a molecular weight of 53,000 from its mobility in a Fracto-gel TSK HW-50F gel permeation column. The molar extinction coefficient of the enzyme at 278 nm was estimated to be 4.2 X 10(4) M-1 cm-1. The isoelectric point of the protein, as revealed by chromatofocusing, was about 6.7. The optimal pH for activity, like other plant acid phosphatases, was 5.0. While the enzyme failed to accommodate phytate as a substrate, the enzyme did exhibit a broad substrate selectivity. The affinity of the enzyme for p-nitrophenyl phosphate was high (Km = 70 microM), and activity was competitively inhibited by orthophosphate (Ki = 280 microM). The estimated catalytic turnover number (Kcat) of the enzyme for p-nitrophenyl phosphate was about 430 per second. Although the purified enzyme was stable at 0 degrees C and exhibited maximum catalytic activity at 60 degrees C, thermal inactivation studies indicated that the enzyme lost 100% activity after treatment at 68 degrees C for 10 min.     

Cloning, purification, and properties of a phosphotyrosine protein phosphatase from Streptomyces coelicolor A3(2).

We describe the isolation and characterization of a gene (ptpA) from Streptomyces coelicolor A3(2) that codes for a protein with a deduced M(r) of 17,690 containing significant amino acid sequence identity with mammalian and prokaryotic small, acidic phosphotyrosine protein phosphatases (PTPases). After expression of S. coelicolor ptpA in Escherichia coli with a pT7-7-based vector system, PtpA was purified to homogeneity as a fusion protein containing five extra amino acids. The purified fusion enzyme catalyzed the removal of phosphate from p-nitrophenylphosphate (PNPP), phosphotyrosine (PY), and a commercial phosphopeptide containing a single phosphotyrosine residue but did not cleave phosphoserine or phosphothreonine. The pH optima for PNPP and PY hydrolysis by PtpA were 6.0 and 6.5, respectively. The Km values for hydrolysis of PNPP and PY by PtpA were 0.75 mM (pH 6.0, 37 degrees C) and 2.7 mM (pH 6.5, 37 degrees C), respectively. Hydrolysis of PNPP by S. coelicolor PtpA were 0.75 mM (pH 6.0, 37 degrees C) and 2.7 mM (pH 6.5, 37 degrees C), respectively. Hydrolysis of PNPP by S. coelicolor PtpA was competitively inhibited by dephostatin with a Ki of 1.64 microM; the known PTPase inhibitors phenylarsine oxide, sodium vanadate, and iodoacetate also inhibited enzyme activity. Apparent homologs of ptpA were detected in other streptomycetes by Southern hybridization; the biological functions of PtpA and its putative homologs in streptomycetes are not yet known.     

Identification and purification of a cytosolic phosphotyrosyl protein phosphatase from bovine spleen

A protein tyrosine kinase with an apparent Mr of 60,000 was highly purified from bovine spleen and used to phosphorylate poly(Glu, Tyr) (4:1) on tyrosine residues for the study of phosphotyrosyl protein phosphatases from this tissue. About 70% of the phosphotyrosyl protein phosphatase activity in extracts of bovine spleen was adsorbed on DEAE-Sepharose. Chromatography of the eluted phosphotyrosyl protein phosphatases on phosphocellulose indicated the presence of at least two species, one that did not bind to the phosphocellulose and a second species that did bind and was eluted at about 0.5 M NaCl. The phosphatase that did not bind to phosphocellulose was further purified by successive chromatography on poly(L-lysine)-Sepharose, L-tyrosine-agarose, poly(Glu,Tyr)-Sepharose, and Sephacryl S-200. The enzyme had an apparent Mr of 50,000 as estimated by gel filtration and 52,000 as estimated by NaDodSO4- polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. The phosphatase exhibited a pH optimum of 6.5-7.0, was inhibited by Zn2+ and vanadate ions, and was stimulated by EDTA. Sodium fluoride and sodium pyrophosphate, inhibitors of phosphoseryl protein phosphatases, had no effect on the enzyme. Protein inhibitors of type 1 phosphoseryl/threonyl phosphatase were also ineffective.