An acid phosphatase, free of deoxyribonuclease activity, was isolated from Manihot glaziovii leaves. It had a Mr of 78 kDa and was optimally active at pH 4.3 and 52 degrees C. It was inactivated at 65 degrees C over 15 min. It had a broad substrate specificity with strongest activity towards p-nitrophenyl phosphate. The enzyme dephosphorylated linearized pUC18 DNA and preventing self-ligation under the same conditions used for calf intestine alkaline phosphatase.