Activation of human erythrocyte 2,3-bisphosphoglycerate phosphatase at physiological concentrations of substrate

In human erythrocytes the reactions of the 2,3-bisphosphoglycerate shunt are catalyzed primarily by one protein, 2,3-bisphosphoglycerate synthase-phosphatase. At low concentrations of 2,3-bisphosphoglycerate the phosphatase is activated by several anions including inorganic phosphate and sulfite, and the phosphate activation is inhibited by low concentrations of 3-phosphoglycerate [Z. B. Rose and J. Liebowitz (1970) J. Biol. Chem. 245, 3232-3241]. Phosphate and sulfite also activate at high but physiological concentrations of 2,3-bisphosphoglycerate (5 mM), but the inhibition by 3-phosphoglycerate is much weaker. The basal activity (without added phosphate or sulfite) was also found to be higher and to be 3-phosphoglycerate sensitive; this is attributed to activation either by 2,3-bisphosphoglycerate itself or by a contaminant in it. These results allow previous observations of 2,3-bisphosphoglycerate hydrolysis in intact erythrocytes to be reconciled with the properties of the purified enzyme under near-physiological conditions.