Which enzyme class does alkaline phosphatase belong to?

Which enzyme class does alkaline phosphatase belong to?

• A. Hydrolases
• B. Transferases
• C. Oxidoreductases
• D. Lyases

Answer: (A)

Alkaline phosphatase performs hydrolysis of phosphate esters, using water to break the phosphate–oxygen bond and releasing inorganic phosphate and an alcohol (or glucose phosphate, etc.). This direct use of water to cleave a bond places it in the hydrolases category, the enzyme class defined by catalyzing bond-breaking reactions through hydrolysis. Other classes are distinguished by different chemistry: transferases move functional groups from one molecule to another; oxidoreductases catalyze oxidation-reduction (electron transfer) reactions; and lyases cleave bonds without hydrolysis, often forming or removing double bonds or rearranging structures. Since alkaline phosphatase relies on water to hydrolyze phosphate esters, it belongs to hydrolases.

Alkaline phosphatase performs hydrolysis of phosphate esters, using water to break the phosphate–oxygen bond and releasing inorganic phosphate and an alcohol (or glucose phosphate, etc.). This direct use of water to cleave a bond places it in the hydrolases category, the enzyme class defined by catalyzing bond-breaking reactions through hydrolysis. Other classes are distinguished by different chemistry: transferases move functional groups from one molecule to another; oxidoreductases catalyze oxidation-reduction (electron transfer) reactions; and lyases cleave bonds without hydrolysis, often forming or removing double bonds or rearranging structures. Since alkaline phosphatase relies on water to hydrolyze phosphate esters, it belongs to hydrolases.