Xxxii. the Preparation and Use of the Bone Phosphatase. by Marjorie Martland And

THE phosphatase obtained from the bones of growing animals has proved very useful in the study of the chemical composition of phosphoric esters of biochemical interest. By its aid the phosphoric acid groups may be quantitatively removed under conditions of pH and temperature which do not involve the rupture of other linkages in the molecule such as would occur during acid hydrolysis. For such purposes, as well as for the study of the mode of action of the enzyme, it is desirable to have stable preparations of the phosphatase, of high activity and as free as possible from blood pigments and such other impurities as would be difficult to remove from the hydrolysis products. The following is a brief account of experiments carried out with this object in view, and of the methods at present employed.