acid phosphatase

acid phosphatase /ac·id phos·pha·tase/ (as´id fos´fah-tās) a hydrolase found in mammalian liver, spleen, bone marrow, plasma and formed blood elements, and prostate gland, catalyzing the cleavage of orthophosphate from orthophosphoric monoesters under acid conditions; determination of its activity in serum is an important diagnostic test.

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acid phosphatase

n.

A phosphatase with optimum functioning at pH 5.4 and present in the prostate gland.

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acid phosphatase,

an enzyme found in the kidneys, serum, semen, and prostate gland. It is elevated in serum in prostate cancer and in trauma. Normal concentrations in serum are 0 to 1.1 Bodansky units/mL. See also alkaline phosphatase.

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acid [as´id]

1. sour.

2. a substance that yields hydrogen ions in solution and from which hydrogen may be displaced by a metal to form a salt. For the various acids, see under the specific name, such as acetic acid. All acids react with bases to form salts and water (neutralization). Other properties of acids include a sour taste and the ability to cause certain dyes to undergo a color change. A common example of this is the ability of acids to change litmus paper from blue to red.

Inorganic acids are distinguished as binary or hydracids, and ternary or oxyacids; the former contain no oxygen; in the latter, the hydrogen is united to an electronegative element by oxygen. The hydracids are distinguished by the prefix hydro-. The names of acids end in -ic, except in the case in which there are two degrees of oxygenation. The acid containing the greater amount of oxygen has the termination -ic, the one having the lesser amount has the termination -ous. Acids with the termination -ic form the salts ending in -ate; those ending in -ous form the salts ending in -ite. The salts of hydracids end in -ide. These rules are demonstrated by the acids and salts: hydrochloric acid (HCl), sodium chloride (NaCl), sulfuric acid (H₂SO₄), sodium sulfate (Na₂SO₄), sulfurous acid (H₂SO₃), sodium sulfite (Na₂SO₃). Acids are called monobasic, dibasic, tribasic, and tetrabasic, respectively, when they contain one, two, three, or four replaceable hydrogen atoms.

The most common organic acids are carboxylic acids, containing the carboxyl group (-COOH); examples are acetic acid, citric acid, amino acids, and fatty acids. Their salts and esters end in -ate, e.g., ethyl acetate. Other organic acids are phenols and sulfonic acids.

Acids play a vital role in the chemical processes that are a normal part of the functions of the cells and tissues of the body. A stable balance between acids and bases in the body is essential to life. See also acid-base balance.

acid elution test air-dried blood smears are fixed in 80 per cent methanol and immersed in a pH 3.3 buffer; all hemoglobins are eluted except fetal hemoglobin (HbF), which is seen in red blood cells after staining.

inorganic acid an acid containing no carbon atoms.

acid perfusion test Bernstein test.

acid phosphatase a lysosomal enzyme that hydrolyzes phosphate esters liberating inorganic phosphate and has an optimal pH of about 5.0. Serum activity of the prostatic isoenzyme is greatly increased in metastatic cancer of the prostate and is used to monitor the course of the disease.

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phosphatase [fos´fah-tās]

any of a group of enzymes capable of catalyzing the hydrolysis of esterified phosphoric acid, with liberation of inorganic phosphate, found in practically all tissues, body fluids, and cells, including erythrocytes and leukocytes.

acid phosphatase see acid phosphatase.

alkaline phosphatase see alkaline phosphatase.

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acid (as´id),

n a chemical substance that, in an aqueous solution, undergoes dissociation with the formation of hydrogen ions; pH levels range from 0 to 6.9. See also pH and acidic. Opposite: base.

acid, acetic,

n the acid of vinegar, sometimes used as a solvent for the removal of calculus from a removable dental prosthesis. See also solvent.

acid, ascorbic,

n See vitamin C.

acid, carbolic,

n See phenol.

acid, cevitamic,

n See vitamin C.

acid conditioning,

n the use of acid (such as phosphoric acid) to prepare the tooth surface for bonding of dental adhesives or enamel sealants.

acid etchant,

n an application of phosphoric acid used to prepare enamel surfaces to aid enamel sealant placement.

acid etching,

n the process of treating the tooth enamel, generally with phosphoric acid, by removal of approximately 40 mm of enamel rod to provide retention for enamel sealant, restorative material, or orthodontic bracket.

acid, folic,

n See vitamin B complex.

acid, hydroxypropionic

n See acid, lactic.

acid, lactic (hydroxypropionic acid),

n a monobasic acid, C₃H₆O₃, formed as an end product in the intermediary metabolism of carbohydrates. The accumulation of lactic acid in the tissues is in part responsible for the lowering of pH levels during inflammatory states; that is, the drop in pH level is believed to increase bone loss level.

acid, nicotinic,

n 1. a vitamin of the B complex group and its vitamer, niacinamide, specific for the treatment of pellagra. Niacinamide functions as a constituent of coenzyme I (DPN) and coenzyme II (TPN). Nicotinic acid is found in lean meats, liver, yeast, milk, and leafy green vegetables.
n 2. an acid (C₅H₄N [COOH]) that forms part of the B complex group of vitamins. It acts as a cofactor in intermediary carbohydrate metabolism. It is a constituent of certain coenzymes that function in oxidative-reductive metabolic systems. With niacinamide, it is a pellagra-preventive factor. Also called
niacin, P.-P. factor, pyridine 3-carboxylic acid, vitamin P.-P.

acid, orthophosphoric

n See acid, phosphoric.

acid, pantothenic

n a vitamin of the B complex group, the importance of which has not been established. It is a constituent of coenzyme A.

acid phosphatase,

n an enzyme found in the kidneys, serum, semen, and prostate gland. It is elevated in serum blood levels in individuals with prostate cancer and in individuals who have recently experienced trauma.

acid, phosphoric (HPO, orthophosphoric acid),

n the principal ingredient of silicate and zinc phosphate cement liquids.

acid, pteroylglutamic,

n See vitamin B complex.

acid salt,

n a salt containing one or more replaceable hydrogen ions.

acid, strong,

n an acid that is completely ionized in aqueous solution.

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phosphatase(s) (fos´ftās),

n a group of enzymes that are distributed throughout most cells and body fluids and are characterized by their ability to hydrolyze a wide variety of monophosphate esters to alcohols and inorganic phosphate.

phosphatase, acid,

n a group of phosphatases (e.g., serum, liver, prostate) with optimal activity below a pH level of 7. Elevated serum levels have been observed in metastatic breast and prostatic cancer; Paget's, Gaucher's, and Niemann-Pick diseases and in myelocytic leukemia.

phosphatase, alkaline,

n a group of phosphatases (e.g., serum, liver, bone) whose optimal activity ranges near a pH level of 9.8. Elevated blood levels occur in Paget's disease and pregnancy, whereas low levels are characteristic of dwarfism and a generalized nutritional protein deficiency.

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acid phosphatase

see acid phosphatase.

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acid phosphatase

A group of enzymes with broad specificity which transphosphorylates; APs are present in the prostate gland, semen, liver, spleen, RBCs, BM, platelets Ref range 0-1.1 Bodansky U ↑ Prostate CA or infarction, Paget's disease, Gaucher's disease, multiple myeloma. See PSA.