Calf-intestinal alkaline phosphatase (CIAP/CIP) is a type of alkaline phosphatase that catalyzes the removal of phosphate groups from the 5' end of DNA strands and phosphomonoesters from RNA.[1][2] This enzyme is frequently used in DNA sub-cloning, as DNA fragments that lack the 5' phosphate groups cannot ligate.[3] This prevents recircularization of the linearized DNA vector and improves the yield of the vector containing the appropriate insert.
Calf-intestinal alkaline phosphatase can serve as an effective tool for removing uranium from groundwater and soil that can pose major health risks.[4] Furthermore, the toxicity of lipopolysaccharide (LPS) was mitigated by calf-intestinal alkaline phosphatase in mice and piglets, which indicates that it could be a promising new therapeutic agent for treating diseases associated with LPS.[5]
^Beumer C, Wulferink M, Raaben W, Fiechter D, Brands R, Seinen W (November 2003). "Calf intestinal alkaline phosphatase, a novel therapeutic drug for lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-mediated diseases, attenuates LPS toxicity in mice and piglets". The Journal of Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics. 307 (2): 737–744. doi:10.1124/jpet.103.056606. PMID12970380. S2CID15049304.
