Description
Cytosolic sulfotransferases are a family of Phase II drugmetabolizing enzymes that catalyze the sulfation of many endogenous and xenobiotic substrates (13). They have important roles in the metabolism of many endogenous compounds including steroids, bile acids, thyroid hormones and monoamine neurotransmitters. They are distributed throughout the body and serve to inactivate and increase watersolubility of xenobiotics and therapeutic drugs. They are distinct from Golgi resident sulfotransferases by lacking Nterminal signalanchor domains and residing only in the cytoplasm. SULT2A1 is primarily expressed in liver and adrenal tissues where it sulfates steroids and bile acids (46). It is also called DHEA/bile acid sulfotransferase and plays roles in maintaining cholesterol and bile acid homeostasis by increasing cholesterol catabolism and, at the same time, preventing toxicity from bile acid accumulation