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An enzyme with a double identity: purple acid phosphatase and tartrate‐resistant acid phosphatase
Author(s) -
Vincent John B.,
Averill Bruce A.
Publication year - 1990
Publication title -
the faseb journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.709
H-Index - 277
eISSN - 1530-6860
pISSN - 0892-6638
DOI - 10.1096/fasebj.4.12.2394317
Subject(s) - tartrate , acid phosphatase , phosphatase , enzyme , biochemistry , organelle , chemistry , biology
The tartrate‐resistant acid phosphatases or purple acid phosphatases constitute a class of related mammalian enzymes. Spectroscopic and magnetic studies have revealed that the purple phosphatases contain a novel dinuclear iron active site that is responsible for the purple color. More biologically and biomedically oriented research has shown that the tartrate‐resistant acid phosphatases generally occur in osteoclasts and white blood cells, where they appear to be localized in lysosomes or similar organelles. Despite the different names given the enzymes by researchers in the two fields, recent sequence determinations and immunological studies indicate that the enzymes are identical. The status of research in both fields is reviewed in an attempt to present a unified picture of the structure, function, and mode of action of these unique metalloproteins.—Vincent, J. B.; Averill, B. A. Purple acid phosphatase and tartrate‐resistant acid phosphatase: an enzyme with a double identity. FASEB J. 4: 3009‐3014; 1990.