INTACT MUMMIFIED BONE ALKALINE-PHOSPHATASE

Our knowledge to the mode of conservation of mummified structurally an d functionally intact biopolymers is limited. Rib samples of a well-pr eserved 2300-year old ptolemeic mummy were examined whether or not fun ctionally active Zn2Mg alkaline phosphatase could be detected. A prote in of M(r) 170 +/- 20 kDa being close to 200 kDa of the enzyme of fles h bones was successfully isolated. Both a 200 kDa protein and a distin ct subunit of 60 kDa were seen in SDS-PAGE electrophoresis which was i dentical to those of fresh bone alkaline phosphatase. There was a sign ificant enzymic activity of 17 mU/mg protein which could be inhibited in the presence of L-homoarginine and 1,10-phenanthroline.