Alkaline Phosphatase (D-3) Antibody: sc-137213

Alkaline Phosphatase Background Information
Alkaline phosphatases (AP) are glycosyl-phosphatidylinositol (GPI)-anchored, dimeric, Zn2+ metallated glycoproteins that catalyze the hydrolysis of phosphomonoesters into an inorganic phosphate and an alcohol. They are most effective in an alkaline environment and specifically function to remove phosphate groups in the 5- and 3- positions from many types of molecules, including nucleotides, proteins and alkaloids. There are at least four distinct but related alkaline phosphatases: intestinal (IAP), placental (PLAP), placental-like (ALP-1 or GCAP) and tissue non-specific (TNAP). The first three are located together on chromosome 2 while the tissue non-specific form is located on chromosome 1. Alkaline phosphatases have become useful tools in molecular biology laboratories, removing the phosphate groups on the 5’ end of DNA. Removal of these phosphates prevents the DNA from ligating, thereby preventing DNA degradation. In addition, alkaline phosphatases can also be used as a label for enzyme immunoassays.