Influence of zinc ions addition to different lots of 2-amino-2-methyl-1-propanol (AMP) buffer on the alkaline phosphatase activities.

The influence of Zn2+ on the inactivation of alkaline phosphatase [orthophosphoric monoester phosphohydrolase (alkaline optimum), EC 3.1 3.1] in serum during preincubation with 2-amino-2-methyl-1-propanol (AMP) buffers was investigated. Addition of Zn2+ to the buffer before preincubation increases the enzyme activity. An optimum Zn2+ concentration different for each lot of AMP buffer can be found, at which the enzyme activities are restored to a level equal to activities measured without preincubation. There is a relation between the inactivating properties of the different AMP buffers and the amount of Zn2+ needed to prevent this inactivation. Since Zn2+ chelating substituted diamines are held responsible for the inactivation by removing Zn2+ from the enzyme, we assume that the addition of Zn2+ to the buffer prevents this removal. As Zn2+ itself is an inhibitor of the enzyme, the addition of both too much or too little Zn2+ results in lower enzyme activities after preincubation with AMP buffer.