Regulation of the induction of alkaline phosphatase in choriocarcinoma cells by sodium butyrate.

Alkaline phosphatase is induced in human choriocarcinoma cells by short-chain fatty acids, especially sodium butyrate. This fatty acid increases the phosphatase activity immediately and in a nearly linear fashion. Only phosphatase with an alkaline pH optimum is induced. Both the induced alkaline phosphatase and the basal enzyme are precipitated by antiserum against term-placental alkaline phosphatase, but the choriocarcinoma phosphatase is less stable to heating than is the term-placental enzyme. The induction of alkaline phosphatase activity requires cellular synthesis of protein, RNA and DNA. The regulation of induction probably occurs at the transcriptional level.