Plasma membrane-associated phosphatase activities hydrolyzing [32P]phosphotyrosyl histones and [32P]phosphatidylinositol phosphate.

We describe a procedure of preparing [32P]phosphotyrosyl histones with minimal contamination by 32P-labeled lipids; the latter was usually found to be mixed with the phosphoproteins when the cell membrane-enriched fraction of A-431 cells was used as a source of tyrosine kinase. The phosphatase activities previously found to be associated with the plasma membranes of a human astrocytoma were resolved using purified [32P]phosphotyrosyl histones and [32P]phosphatidylinositol phosphate. In comparison with the phosphotyrosyl protein phosphatase, the phosphatidylinositol phosphate phosphatase activity is more active over a broad range of pH values, and its activity is inhibited by fluoride, zinc chloride, and lower concentrations of vanadate.