The catalytic activity of human placental alkaline phosphatase (PLAP) and germ cell alkaline phosphatase (GCAP) can be inhibited, through an uncompetitive mechanism, by L-Phe. GCAP is also selectively inhibited by L-Leu. Site-directed mutagenesis of five of the 12 residues which are different in PLAP and GCAP revealed that Gly429 is the primary determinant of GCAP inhibition by L-Leu, and Ser84 and Leu297 play a modulatory role in the inhibition.