Catalysis of phosphoryl transfer by prostatic acid phosphatase.

As part of a study on enzymic catalysis of group transfer, this laboratory has previously reported on the enzymic transfer of the glucuronyl radical from a variety of donor substrates to a number of acceptor alcohols (1). The phenomenon was studied in detail and conditions for efficient group transfer were investigated. The present paper reports the use of a similar approach in studying the acid phosphatase-catalyzed transfer of the phosphoryl radical from suitable donor substrates to acceptor molecules. Conditions for efficient transfer and the nature of the phenomenon are described herein. The comparison of phosphoryl and glucuronyl transfer provides points of similarity and of difference which are dealt with in the discussion.