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Official Full Name: alkaline phosphatase, placental
Also known as: ALP; IAP; ALPI; PALP; PLAP; PLAP-1
The protein encoded by this gene is an alkaline phosphatase, a metalloenzyme that catalyzes the hydrolysis of phosphate monoesters. It belongs to a multigene family consisting of four alkaline phosphatase isozymes. The enzyme functions as a homodimer whose catalytic site contains one magnesium ion and two zinc ions, which are required for its enzymatic function. One of the main sources of this enzyme is the liver, therefore, it is one of several indicators of liver damage in different clinical conditions. In pregnant women, this protein is mainly expressed in placental and endometrial tissues, but strong ectopic expression is also found in ovarian adenocarcinoma, serous cystadenocarcinoma, and other ovarian cancer cells.