Differential inhibitory action of the fungal toxin orellanine on alkaline phosphatase isoenzymes.

The inhibitory action of orellanine (3,3',4,4'-tetrahydroxy-2,2'-dipyridyl-1,1'-dioxide), a fungal toxin of Cortinarius orellanus Fr. and C. orellanoides R. Hry., on alkaline phosphatase isoenzymes was studied. Orellanine specifically inhibited alkaline phosphatase activity in LLC-PK1 renal epithelial cell cultures and in the colon carcinoma cell line Caco-2 without affecting gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase activity. Kinetic studies revealed that orellanine acts on renal alkaline phosphatase as a noncompetitive inhibitor, whereas the intestinal and placental isoforms are inhibited competitively.