Occurrence of alkaline pyrophosphatase in vegetable tissues

Abstract

A number of vegetable tissues were analysed for phosphatase and pyrophosphatase activities, with and without added Mg2+. Besides the already known acid phosphatase and acid pyrophosphatase, a potent alkaline pyrophosphatase, active only in the presence of added Mg2+, was found in all vegetable tissues tested. Fresh plant products showed more alkaline pyrophosphatase activity than the stored products. The richest sources are green leaves which also contain large amounts of acid pyrophosphatase. Perhaps the alkaline pyrophosphatase is more essential for plant tissues where photosynthesis is taking place. Plant tissues, unlike animal tissues, do not contain any alkaline phosphatase.