Description
Prostatic acid phosphatase (PAP), also prostatic specific acid phosphatase (PSAP), is an enzyme produced by the prostate. It may be found in increased amounts in men who have prostate cancer or other diseases. The highest levels of acid phosphatase are found in metastasized prostate cancer. Diseases of the bone, such as Paget's disease or hyperparathyroidism, diseases of blood cells, such as sickle-cell disease or multiple myeloma or lysosomal storage diseases, such as Gaucher's disease, will show moderately increased levels.
Appearance
Cloudy, straw colored liquid
Enzyme Commission Number
EC 3.1.3.2
Activity
> 200 U/mL (Dimension Clinical Chemistry System)
Purity
Partially Purified
Specificity
Typically > 25 U/mg protein
Unit Definition
One unit will catalyze the hydrolysis of one micromole of thymolphthalein monophosphate to thymolphthalein and phosphate per minute at pH 5.6 and 37°C.
Pathway
Riboflavin metabolism, organism-specific biosystem; Riboflavin metabolism, conserved biosystem
Function
5-nucleotidase activity; acid phosphatase activity; hydrolase activity
Synonyms
Prostatic acid phosphatase; PAP; prostatic specific acid phosphatase; PSAP; EC 3.1.3.2; ACP; Acid Phos; 5'-nucleotidase; 5'-NT; Ecto-5'-nucleotidase; Thiamine monophosphatase; TMPase; PAPf39