RESEARCH ARTICLE
Distinct Metal Ion Requirements for the Phosphomonoesterase and Phosphodiesterase Activities of Calf Intestinal Alkaline Phosphatase
Adedoyin Igunnu1, Dunsin S Osalaye2, Olufunso O Olorunsogo2, Sylvia O Malomo**, 1, Femi J Olorunniji*, 1, 3
Article Information
Identifiers and Pagination:
Year: 2011Volume: 5
First Page: 67
Last Page: 72
Publisher ID: TOBIOCJ-5-67
DOI: 10.2174/1874091X01105010067
Article History:
Received Date: 26/9/2011Revision Received Date: 28/10/2011
Acceptance Date: 30/10/2011
Electronic publication date: 30/12/2011
Collection year: 2011

open-access license: This is an open access article licensed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution Non-Commercial License (http: //creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/3.0/) which permits unrestricted, non-commercial use, distribution and reproduction in any medium, provided the work is properly cited.
Abstract
The roles of Mg2+ and Zn2+ ions in promoting phosphoryl transfer catalysed by alkaline phosphatase are yet to be fully characterised. We investigated the divalent metal ion requirements for the monoesterase and diesterase activities of calf intestinal alkaline phosphatase. The synergistic effect of Mg2+ and Zn2+ in promoting the hydrolysis of para-nitrophenyl phosphate (monoesterase reaction) by alkaline phosphatase is not observed in the hydrolysis of the diesterase substrate, bis-para-nitrophenyl phosphate. Indeed, the diesterase reaction is inhibited by concentrations of Mg2+ that were optimal for the monoesterase reaction. This study reveals that the substrate specificities of alkaline phosphatases and related bimetalloenzymes are subject to regulation by changes in the nature and availability of cofactors, and the different cofactor requirements of the monoesterase and diesterase reactions of mammalian alkaline phosphatases could have significance for the biological functions of the enzymes.