Isolation and characterization of a tartrate-sensitive splenic acid phosphatase in Gaucher's disease

The acid phosphatase activity that is increased in the spleens of patients with Gaucher's disease can be separated into two principal isoenzymes by chromatography on sulphopropyl-Sephadex. The acid phosphatase species that is resistant to inhibition by l-(+)-tartrate is retained by the cation-exchange resin while the tartrate-sensitive species passes through. We have isolated and characterized the tartrate-sensitive acid phosphatase (designated SP_I) from the spleen of a patient with the adult (type 1) form of Gaucher's disease. SP_I acid phosphatase, representing approximately 30 to 50% of the total acid phosphatase activity in a detergent (Triton X-100) extract of spleen tissue, has been purified approximately 400-fold to a specific activity of 48 units/mg of protein (substrate, 4-methylumbelliferyl phosphate). The final preparation of acid phosphatase contains at least two protein components—each with phosphatase activity—when analyzed by polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis at pH 8.9 or isoelectric focusing. SP_I acid phosphatase exhibits a broad substrate specificity and catalyzes the hydrolysis of a variety of artificial and natural phosphate-containing compounds including p-nitrophenyl phosphate, α-naphthyl phosphate, phosphoenolpyruvate, and CMP. The enzyme is inhibited by l-(+)-tartrate, sodium fluoride, and ammonium molybdate and has the following properties: pH optimum, 4.5; K_m on 4-methylumbelliferyl phosphate, 44 μm; pI, 3.8–4.1; M_r, 177,400; s_20,w, 6.8.