THE ACTION OF THE PHOSPHATASES OF HUMAN BRAIN ON LIPID PHOSPHATE ESTERS

Abstract

Alkaline phosphatase (human brain) hydrolyses phenylphosphate, alpha-naphthyl phosphate, phenolphthalein phosphate, alpha and beta glycerophosphate and the phosphate esters of choline, ethanolamine and serine at pH 8.9 at approximately the same rate. Acid phosphatase, while strongly active against the aromatic phosphate esters, hydrolyses alpha and beta glycerophosphate slowly and has virtually no effect on the lipid phosphate esters. A crude preparation of inositol monophosphate appears to be hydrolyzed only by alkaline phosphatase.