A novel alkaline phosphatase, a minor component of normal liver phosphatases

A novel alkaline phosphatase differing from the so-called liver-specific isoenzyme was found in four out of twenty-four normal adult livers. Although the mobility of this enzyme was the same as that of so-called liver-specific alkaline phosphatase on the polyacrylamide gel electrophoretogram, its mobility was not altered following neuraminidase treatment, while that of the liver-specific enzyme was affected by the same treatment. Both enzymes also differed in other enzymatic and immunologic properties. The enzyme, however, resembled the so-called intestinal alkaline phosphatase in many enzymatic and immunologic properties. Thus, the inhibition patterns by amino acids, EDTA and inorganic phosphate, the pH optima, KM values for phenyl phosphate and reactivity with anti-intestinal alkaline phosphatase antibody were quite similar for both enzymes. Differences in the properties of this enzyme and intestinal alkaline phosphatase were in sensitivity to denaturation by treatment with heat and urea and to inhibition by Levamisole. The possible origin of the enzyme in normal liver and its relationship to the Kasahara isoenzyme and fetal intestine-type in hepatoma is discussed.