Properties of the acid phosphatases of erythrocytes and of the human prostate gland

Abstract

There is much evidence indicating the non-identity of acid phosphatases of different origin. Kutscher & Worner (1936) described the irreversible inactivation of the prostatic acid phosphatase by certain narcotics, including alcohols. This was used by In the present investigation the question of the identity of these two acid phosphatases is further dealt with. For this purpose, the rates of hydrolysis of phenyl phosphate by each enzyme at different pH values were determined, together with the relative rates of hydrolysis of a-and P-glycerophosphates. This was followed by studies of the effects of organic and inorganic substances belonging to different groups of a possible activating or inhibiting nature. The nature of the enzymes is dis- cussed in the light of these experiments.