A hepatoma-associated alkaline phosphatase, the Kasahara isozyme, compared with one of the isozymes of FL amnion cells.

It was found that a human hepatoma-associated ALP (orthophosphoric monoester phosphohydrolase, E.C. 3.1.3.1) shared electrophoretic mobility, inactivation by urea, inhibition by inorganic phosphate, ethylenediaminetetraacetate, and amino acids (L-phenylalanine, L-leucine and L-homoarginine), heat stability, sensitivity to neuraminidase, pH optimum, Km value, and antigen site with fast moving ALP isozymes of FL cell strain derived from human amniotic membrane. However, 40-week-old fresh amniotic membrane lacked this isozyme. Instead, it had a placental type ALP consisting of minor components. The other ALP isozyme of FL cells had properties common to hepatoma ALP with regard to L-phenylalanine sensitivity, inhibition by ethylenediaminetetraacetate, inactivation by urea, and antigen site, but differed from it in electrophoretic mobility, sensitivity to L-leucine and L-homoarginine, and the presence of another antigen site. It was more heat stable and more sensitive to inhibition by inorganic phosphate than Hepatoma AP. The possible regulatory mechanism between the hepatoma-type ALP and the placental type ALP in the amnion cells is considered.