An examination of the age-related patterns of decay of acid phosphatase (ACP1) in human red cells from individuals of different phenotypes.

A study has been made of the decay of acid phosphatase (ACP1) in the human red cell using red cell fractions of different mean ages prepared by density gradient centrifugation. Red cells from acid phosphatase type A and type B individuals were used in the study. Acid phosphatase activity of the red cell fractions was determined by two different assay methods. The results obtained were comparable and have been combined. Acid phosphatase type A and type B showed a biphasic decay pattern with a rapid early loss of activity, followed by a more gradual rate of decline. Type A appeared to decay more rapidly than type B in both decay phases. It is proposed that differences in stability between type A and type B in vivo may explain the observed differences in activity between the enzyme types. There was no evidence for the generation of secondary isozymes by acid phosphatase type A or type B during red cell aging.