An enzyme which hydrolyzes phosphate esters and works best in the pH range of 9 to 11; it catalyzes the removal of phospate groups near the 5' end of linear DNA strands such as restricted plasmid molecules. This enzyme is typically obtained from calf intestinal tissue or E. coli and is used widely in gene cloning experiments and in enzyme-antibody conjugates in ELISA and immunochemistry.
From the BioTech Dictionary at http://biotech.icmb.utexas.edu/. For further information see the BioTech homenode.