Biology of human alkaline phosphatases with special reference to cancer.

The current information on the cloning and sequencing of four alkaline phosphatase genes (PLAP, GCAP, IAP, TNAP) has been reviewed. It has provided insights into their evolutionary history and the mechanisms of catalysis and of uncompetitive inhibition. The oncodevelopmental biology of the germ cell and its excessive GCAP eutopic expression in neoplasia are noted, and there is reason to suggest that the enzyme may serve to guide migratory cells and to transport specific molecules such as fat and immunoglobulins across membranes.

The 1993 ISOBM Abbott Award Lecture. Isozymes, tumor markers and oncodevelopmental biology.

This is the history of discoveries of several enzyme tumor markers in the awardees laboratory. The first, beta-glucuronidase, was originally related to the physiological actions of estrogens and androgens. Perfection of histochemical techniques based on new substrates demonstrated the dual localization of beta-glucuronidase in endoplasmic reticulum and lysosomes.

Alkaline phosphatase isozymes: recent progress.

The past few years have witnessed the reports of significant new events in alkaline phosphatase (AP) isozymes. The cloning of the relevant genes and their nucleotide sequencing have all been accomplished. As a group, the genes for the intestinal, germ cell and placental isozymes have considerable sequence similarity; it is noteworthy that they occupy vicinal positions on chromosome 2, while the tissue unspecific AP gene is located on chromosome 1.