Acid phosphatase and zinc ion-dependent acid phosphatase expression in normal human liver and in Hep G2 (human hepatocellular carcinoma) cell line

The expression of high- and low-molecular weight acid phosphatase (HMr- and LMr-AP) and zinc ion-dependent acid phosphatase (HMr-ZnAP and LMr-ZnAP) was compared in normal human liver and in Hep G2 human hepatocarcinoma cell line extracts. The investigation was carried out using Sephadex G-100 chromatography, molecular weight determination, and analysis of some distinctive biochemical characteristics and immunochemical properties. Normal human liver and Hep G2 cell lines expressed both HMr- and LMr-AP enzymes although in different proportions. HMr-ZnAP was detected only in human liver extract, while LMr-ZnAP was present only in hepatoma cell extract, indicating that they were differentially expressed in normal and transformed human liver cells.