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Sulfotransferase Enzyme

Meaning

A Sulfotransferase Enzyme, or SULT, is a critical Phase II metabolic enzyme responsible for catalyzing the transfer of a sulfuryl group (SO3-) from the universal donor, 3′-phosphoadenosine 5′-phosphosulfate (PAPS), onto a hydroxyl or amino group of a substrate molecule. This crucial process, formally termed sulfation, is a major pathway for the detoxification and subsequent inactivation of various xenobiotics, as well as the essential biotransformation of numerous endogenous compounds, including a wide array of steroid hormones and catecholamine neurotransmitters. Inter-individual genetic polymorphisms in SULT activity can profoundly influence the rate of hormonal clearance and overall endocrine balance.