Electrophoretic characterization of pyrimidine 5'-nucleotidase of human erythrocytes and its distinction from acid phosphatase.

Electrophoresis of red cell pyrimidine 5'-nucleotidase was carried out on cellulose acetate strips. One major band of activity was found in preparations from human erythrocytes. This enzyme showed a specificity for the pyrimidine nucleotides UMP and CMP. No activity was detected with AMP. Pyrimidine 5'-nucleotidase activity could be separated from that of acid phosphatase with the use of alpha-glycerophosphate. This method may be useful in the study of pyrimidine 5'-nucleotidase deficiency in red cells.