CLINICAL AND BIOLOGICAL ASPECTS OF ACID-PHOSPHATASE

The identity and genetic origins of the nonspecific orthophosphate mon oesterases with an acid pH optimum - the acid phosphatases - are now b ecoming clear. They form a family of genetically distinct isoenzymes, many of which show significant posttranslational modification. Four tr ue isoenzymes exist. The erythrocytic and lysosomal forms show widespr ead distribution and an expressed in most cells; in contrast, the pros tatic and macrophagic forms have a more limited expression. The erythr ocytic and macrophagic forms are distinguished from the others in resi sting inhibition by dextrorotatory tartrate. The prostatic form has lo ng been used as a marker for prostatic cancer and the macrophagic form s have been linked with miscellaneous disorders, notably increased ost eolysis, Gaucher's disease of spleen, and hairy cell leukemia, whereas the normal levels of intravesical lysosomal acid phosphatase in I cel l disease pointed the way toward the mechanisms underlying its intrace llular processing.