Enzymatic Hydrolysis of p-Nitrophenyl Phsphoryl Derivatives by Phospholipase D

A series of phosphodiesters of p-nitrophenyl phosphoryl derivatives were synthesized and used as a model substrate for phospholipase D (PLD). The phosphodiester substrates were synthesized from p-nitrophenyl phosphorodichloridate and corresponding alcohols with different chain lengths and polar groups. To measure the activity of PLD, either spectroscopic method for p-nitrophenol or pH-stat titration method was employed. For each substrate, effects of substrate concentration, pH, and $Ca^{2+}$ ion were examined. The kinetic parameters $V_{max}$ for the different substrates were varied depending on the chain lengths or charge of the alcohols. No calcium effect was observed in the hydrolysis of neutral and negatively charged alcohol derivatives, while positively charged choline derivative showed a strong $Ca^{2+}$ ion dependence.