RT Journal Article
SR Electronic
T1 Acid phosphatases
JF Molecular Pathology
JO Mol Pathol
FD BMJ Publishing Group Ltd and Association of Clinical Pathologists
SP 65
OP 72
DO 10.1136/mp.55.2.65
VO 55
IS 2
A1 H Bull
A1 P G Murray
A1 D Thomas
A1 A M Fraser
A1 P N Nelson
YR 2002
UL http://mp.bmj.com/content/55/2/65.abstract
AB Acid phosphatases (APs) are a family of enzymes that are widespread in nature, and can be found in many animal and plant species. Mystery surrounds the precise functional role of these molecular facilitators, despite much research. Yet, paradoxically, human APs have had considerable impact as tools of clinical investigation and intervention. One particular example is tartrate resistant acid phosphatase, which is detected in the serum in raised amounts accompanying pathological bone resorption. This article seeks to explore the identity and diversity of APs, and to demonstrate the relation between APs, human disease, and clinical diagnosis.