Summary
A two-step mutant lacking two periplasmic enzymes, alkaline phosphatase and 5′-nucleotidase, was prepared. In extracts of this strain phosphatase activities towards several 5′-nucleotides could be detected. We have partially purified a dUMP phosphatase by streptomycin precipitation and DEAE-chromatography. This preparation has significant phosphatase activity towards three substrates, viz. dUMP, dTMP and UMP, but only traces of activity towards nine other tested nucleoside monophosphates. The three activities are probably due to a single enzyme, since they decrease in parallel on long time storage at 4°C and respond in parallel to stimulatory and inhibitory influences of different buffers and metal ions. The best buffer tested is glycylglycine buffer; Mg2+ is required but 25% activity can be obtained with Co2+ and Mn2+ and 6–8% activity with Fe2+ and Ni2+. Ca2+, Cu2+ or Zn2+ inhibit the phosphatase activities in the presence of Mg2+ or Co2+. The activities towards UMP and dUMP in the DEAE—chromatography eluted identically. The enzyme has the remarkably high apparent K m of 10-2 M with all three substrates.
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Uerkvitz, W., Karlström, O. & Munch-Petersen, A. A deoxyuridine monophosphate phosphatase detected in mutants of Escherichia coli lacking alkaline phosphatase and 5′-nucleotidase. Molec. Gen. Genet. 121, 337–346 (1973). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00433232
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00433232