Human prostatic acid phosphatase: selected properties and practical applications

Abstract

Human prostatic acid phosphatase (EC 3.1.3.2) is a non-specific phosphomonoesterase, synthetized and secreted into seminal plasma under androgenic control. The enzyme is a dimer of molecular weight around 100 kDa. Gene coding this protein is localized on chromosome 3. Since many years prostatic phosphatase has been used as a marker of diagnosis and therapy control of cancer of the prostate gland. The biological role of this enzyme, however, remains unknown and needs further exploration.