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phosphatase

(Science: enzyme) That hydrolyse phosphomonoesters. Acid phosphatases are specific for the single charged phosphate group and alkaline phosphatases for the double charged group. These specificities do not overlap.

The phosphatases comprise a very wide range of enzymes including broad and narrow specificity members. Phosphoprotein phosphatases specifically de phosphorylate a particular protein and are essential if phosphorylation is to be used as a reversible control system. Any of a group of enzymes that act as a catalyst in the hydrolysis of organic phosphates.A type of [[enzyme capable of releasing a [[phosphate from its parent molecule, e.g. the release of phosphate from [[ATP to release energy and the phosphate.