Fosfataasia

Fosfataasia is a term encountered in biochemistry and pharmacology referring to the enzymatic removal of phosphate groups from substrates, a process scientifically known as dephosphorylation. In most current literature the preferred term is dephosphorylation, and the enzymes responsible are phosphatases. Fosfataasia appears as a synonym in some languages or historical texts, but is not universally adopted in English-language science.

Phosphatases catalyze the hydrolysis of phosphate monoesters or anhydrides to yield a dephosphorylated product and inorganic phosphate (Pi). Major classes include protein phosphatases (serine/threonine and tyrosine phosphatases), lipid phosphatases, and alkaline phosphatases, each with distinct substrate specificities and cellular roles. Alkaline phosphatase, for example, participates in bone mineralization and intestinal phosphate absorption, whereas protein tyrosine phosphatases regulate receptor signaling.

Biological significance: dephosphorylation modulates enzyme activity and signaling pathways, influences cell cycle progression, and affects metabolism. It acts in concert with phosphorylation to regulate numerous processes, including MAPK and PI3K-Akt signaling. Dysregulation of phosphatase activity has been linked to cancer, metabolic bone diseases, and other disorders.

Measurement and terminology: phosphatase activity is commonly assessed with substrates such as p-nitrophenyl phosphate (pNPP) or malachite green phosphate detection, with results interpreted in the context of enzyme class and tissue source. The term fosfataasia may appear in some glossaries or multilingual texts but is not standard in most modern biochemistry references.