SULPHOCONJUGATION AND SULPHOHYDROLYSIS

: The formation of sulphoconjugates is a ubiquitous phenomenon and the addition of the sulphate moiety to a variety of endogenous and exogenous molecules dramatically alters their physico-chemical properties and also their biological functions. Large numbers of different types of sulphoconjugate exist and their formation is catalysed by the versatile sulphotransferases. An equally versatile family of enzymes, the sulphohydrolases exist that are capable of accomplishing the reverse reaction. This paper comprises an appraisal of sulphoconjugation and sulphohydrolysis in the metabolism of xenobiotics and addresses the wider issues of sulphur availability and the interplay between mammalian and microbial enzyme systems in the sulphate cycle.