Kinetic mechanism of Halobacterium halobium Mn(2+)-activated alkaline phosphatase

The extreme halophilic archaebacterium Halobacterium halobium contains an atypical alkaline phosphatase which is selectively activated by Mn2+ ions (Bonet et al., 1991: Int. J. Biochem. 23, 1445-1451). Enzyme kinetic mechanism in the presence of Mn2+ with p-nitrophenylphosphate as substrate was analysed by initial rate and product and competitive inhibition studies. The results indicate that there is an ordered addition of activator and substrate, Mn2+ being first in binding to the phosphatase, and that inorganic phosphate is the last product in leaving the enzyme active site. Strong inhibition by vanadate suggests that a phosphoenzyme intermediate is formed during enzymatic phosphohydrolysis of substrate.