Acid Phosphatases from the Bread Fruit Artocarpus communis Seeds as Novel Plant Phosphorylating Biocatalysts

Aims: Investigation on the phosphotransferase activity of two non-specific acid phosphatases (EC 3.1.3.2) designated as AP1 and AP2, previously isolated from breadfruit (Artocarpus communis) seeds for further biotechnological and industrial applications.

Methodology: Transphosphorylation reactions were tested with sodium pyrophosphate as the phosphoryl donor and phenol as its acceptor. Transfer products were quantified by using high performance liquid chromatography.

Results: The two acid phosphatases were able to catalyse phosphoconjugates synthesis using pyrophosphate as the phosphoryl donor and phenol as acceptor. The optimal conditions of transphosphorylation reactions indicated that this synthesis was highly dependent on pH, temperature, time course, donor and acceptor concentrations and enzyme amount. A very short period (1.25 h) was observed for these synthesis reactions catalysed by acid phosphatases isolated from breadfruit (Artocarpus communis) seeds. This suggested energy saving during biotransformation processes. The high average yields of 84.20 and 66.78% obtained for AP1 and AP2, respectively, made them useful to phosphorylate a wide range of nucleophile compounds such as nucleotides often used as food additives and pharmaceutical intermediates.

Conclusion: The acid phosphatase AP1 would be the most promising on the basis the better synthesis product yield (84.20%). The two biocatalysts could be considered as new valuable tools for bioprocesses.