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About the Role of Phosphatases

Phosphatases are enzymes that act as catalysts in the hydrolysis of organic phosphoric acid. Phosphatase enzymes can be divided into two categories: alkaline and acid. Alkaline phosphatases are found in high concentrations in the liver, growing bones and placenta. They are so named because alkaline phosphatases work in alkaline media, in contrast to acid phosphatases, which are active in acidic media.

  1. Hydrolysis of Phosphoric Acid

    • During the hydrolysis of phosphoric acid, a phosphate group is removed from its substrate (i.e., phosphoric acid) and converted into a phosphate ion and a molecule with a free hydroxyl group. The role of phosphatase is completely opposite to that of kinase and phosphorylase, which add phosphate groups to proteins by the help of energy-supplying molecules ATP (adenosine triphosphate). The addition of a phosphate group can set off a protein-protein interaction. This also can activate or deactivate the function of an enzyme. Phosphatase is an important constituent of many biological processes involving genetic transduction because it can regulate the proteins to which they are attached.

    Cellular Physiology

    • A few classes of phosphatase enzymes are found to be involved with many common physiological disorders. This fact indicates that phosphatases control many fundamental processes in cellular physiology. Phosphatases also can avert genetic changes. They are degenerated in response to DNA damage, thus preventing chromosomal abnormalities. Phosphatases also enhance the progression of cell cycle.

    Physiological Relevance

    • Phosphatases are involved in almost every cellular process, biological function and control including gene transcription (i.e., construction of messenger RNA using a DNA molecule) and translation (i.e., the process of forming a protein molecule), cell movement, cell-cycle progression, metabolism, apoptosis (i.e., a type of cell death), protein stability, cytoskeletal disorder and protein stability.

    Diagnosing

    • In the blood, abnormally high phosphatase levels are an indication of certain malignancies, liver or bone disease, and bile duct obstruction. Abnormally low phosphatase levels are considered a genetic disorder, known as "hypophosphatasia" which causes bone deformities in children. Phosphatases are also important in insulin secretion.

    Neuronal Functions

    • In the brain, phosphatases are found in multiple compartments of neuralgia and neuronal and play an important role in various neuronal functions (i.e., pre-and-post synapses and gene expression). These functions are also important for maintaining the coordinated action of signaling cascades.

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