Acylphosphatase and calcium transport across erythrocyte membrane.

Acylphosphatase is a widespread cytosolic enzyme that catalyzes the hydrolysis of carboxylphosphate bond compounds. Among natural acylphosphates hydrolyzed by the enzyme are 3-phosphoglyceroylphosphate, carbanoylphosphate, succinoylphosphate . In mammalian tissues acylphosphatase exists in two isoenzymatic forms: one is prevalent in skeletal muscle, the other in red blood cells (RBCs) . The physiological function of acylphosphatase is still debated.It has been postulated that, by hydrolyzlng 3-phosphoglyceroylphosphate' acylphosphatase may hasten glycolysis at the expence of ATP formation, when the rate of this pathway is limited by low concentrations of inorganic phosphate and ATP. In a recent research project we investigated acylphosphatase content and activity during the human erythrocyte lifespan