Apyrase (None)

Apyrase is a calcium- or magnesium-activated enzyme that catalyzes the sequential hydrolysis of nucleoside triphosphates (NTPs), such as ATP, to their corresponding diphosphates (NDPs) and then to monophosphates (NMPs), releasing inorganic phosphate at each step. It is found in all eukaryotes and some prokaryotes. In blood-feeding arthropods' saliva, they inhibit host platelet aggregation by degrading extracellular ADP—a key mediator of platelet activation—thus facilitating blood feeding. In biotechnology, apyrases are used for degrading unincorporated nucleotides during DNA sequencing reactions such as pyrosequencing and serve as tools for studying purinergic signaling.

Other names

ATP-diphosphataseAdenosine diphosphataseADPaseATP diphosphohydrolaseEctoapyraseSomaseNTDPase

Catalyzes the sequential hydrolysis of nucleoside triphosphates (NTPs) to their corresponding diphosphates (NDPs) and then to monophosphates (NMPs), releasing inorganic phosphate at each step.