Resolution and purification of three periplasmic phosphatases of Salmonella typhimurium

A survey of Salmonella typhimurium enzymes possessing phosphatase or phosphodiesterase activity was made using several different growth conditions. These studies revealed the presence of three major enzymes, all of which were subsequently purified: a cyclic 2' ,3'-nucleotide phosphodiesterase (EC 3.1.4.d), an acid hexose phosphatase (EC 3.1.3.2), and a nonspecific acid phosphatase (EC 3.1.3.2). A fourth enzyme hydrolyzed bis-(p-nitrophenyl)phosphate but none of the other substrates tested. No evidence was found for the existence of an alkaline phosphatase (EC 3.1.3.1) or a specific 5'-nucleotidase (EC 3.1.3.5) in S. typhimurium LT2. All three phosphatases could be measured efficiently in intact cells, which suggested a periplasmic location; however, they were not readily released by osmotic shock procedures. The nonspecific acid phosphatase, which was purified to apparent homogeneity, yielded a single polypeptide band on both sodium dodecyl sulfate and acidic urea gel electrophoretic systems.