Purification and properties of a phosphorylase (phosphoprotein) phosphatase associated with an alkaline phosphatase of Mr 35000 from bovine adrenal cortex.

A metal-ion-independent, nonspecific phosphoprotein phosphatase (Mr = 35000) which represents the major phosphorylase phosphatase activity in bovine adrenal cortex has been purified to apparent homogeneity. An alkaline phosphatase activity (p-nitrophenyl phosphate as a substrate) of the same molecular weight, which requires both a metal ion (Mg2+ greater than Mn2+ greater than Co2+) and a sulfhydryl compound for activity, has been found to co-purify with the phosphoprotein phosphatase throughout the purification procedures. Characterization of the phosphoprotein and the alkaline phosphatase activities with respect to their catalytic properties, substrate and metal ion specificities, relationship with large molecular forms of the enzymes and responses to various effectors has been carried out. The results indicate that the phosphoprotein phosphatase can be converted by pyrophosphoryl compounds (e.g. PPi and ATP) to a metal-ion-dependent form which, subsequently, can be reactivated by Co2+ greater than Mn2+ but not by Mg2+ or Zn2+. The results also indicate that, although the phosphoprotein and the alkaline phosphatase activities are closely associated, they exhibit distinct physical and catalytic properties. Discussions concerning whether these two activities represent two different forms of the same protein or two different yet very similar polypeptide chains have been presented.