Pyrophosphatase

Pyrophosphatase (pronounced: py-ro-phos-pha-tase) is an enzyme that catalyzes the hydrolysis of pyrophosphate to inorganic phosphate. This is a crucial action for the process of DNA replication and RNA transcription.

Etymology

The term "Pyrophosphatase" is derived from the Greek words "pyro" meaning fire and "phosphatase" referring to the enzyme that acts upon phosphate.

Function

Pyrophosphatase plays a vital role in the energy metabolism of cells. It catalyzes the hydrolysis of pyrophosphate to inorganic phosphate, thereby serving as a driving force for many biosynthetic reactions. Pyrophosphatase is also involved in the regulation of phosphate homeostasis.

Types

There are two main types of pyrophosphatases: soluble inorganic pyrophosphatases and membrane-bound proton-pumping pyrophosphatases. Soluble inorganic pyrophosphatases are found in the cytosol and are involved in the hydrolysis of pyrophosphate. Membrane-bound proton-pumping pyrophosphatases are found in the plasma membrane and are involved in the pumping of protons across the membrane.

Related Terms

Enzyme: A protein that acts as a biological catalyst to speed up a chemical reaction.
Pyrophosphate: A type of phosphate that consists of two phosphates.
DNA replication: The process by which a double-stranded DNA molecule is copied to produce two identical DNA molecules.
RNA transcription: The process of transcribing DNA into RNA.
Phosphate: A chemical compound that contains the phosphate ion.

External links

Medical encyclopedia article on Pyrophosphatase
Wikipedia's article - Pyrophosphatase

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Pyrophosphatase