Glycosulphatase: observations on the activity of partially purified preparations towards the sulphate esters of certain monosaccharides and steroids

Arylsulphatase and glycosulphatase of Charonia lampas. Substrate specificity towards sugar sulphate derivatives

The specificity of the arylsulphatase and glycosulphatase enzymes of the marine mollusc Charonia lampas towards a number of carbohydrate sulphate esters was examined. The results confirm that the relationship between the established nomenclature of the two enzymes and their respective specificities is inconsistent.

The biodegradation of some anionic detergents in the rat. A common metabolic pathway

1. The metabolism of the anionic detergents potassium decyl [35S]sulphate and potassium octadecyl [35S]sulphate was investigated in the rat. 2. The major route for elimination of radioactivity was urinary regardless of the route of administration. 3. Both surfactants were extensively degraded in vivo to yield a common metabolite, butyric acid 4-[35S]sulphate, the major urinary radioactive component. 4. Whole-body radioautography revealed the liver as the major site of cellular accumulation of radioactivity following administration of either compound indicating the liver as the major site of metabolism. 5. It is suggested that alkyl sulphates with even-numbered carbons are degraded by a common pathway involving omega-oxidation followed by beta-oxidation.

The metabolism of sodium cortisone 21-( 35 S)sulphate in the rat

1. The metabolism of sodium cortisone 21-[(35)S]sulphate was investigated in rats. 2. Quantitative and qualitative experiments showed that substantial amounts of (35)SO(4) (2-) appeared in the urine of free-ranging rats receiving the ester. 3. Whole-body radioautograms indicated considerable biliary elimination of (35)S and also pointed to the liver as the site of metabolism. 4. When female rats with bile-duct cannulae received sodium cortisone 21-[(35)S]sulphate approx. 70% of the dose appeared in the bile as a doubly conjugated steroid (metabolite I). This metabolite was identified as 3alpha-(beta-d-glucopyranuronosido)- 17alpha-hydroxy-21-[(35)S]sulpho-oxy-5alpha-pregnane-11,20-dione. 5. When metabolite I was administered to a rat with a bile-duct cannula 90% of the dose appeared in the bile unchanged. After the administration (intraperitoneally or orally) of metabolite I to free-ranging rats considerable amounts of (35)SO(4) (2-) appeared in the urine. 6. The route by which (35)SO(4) (2-) might be produced from cortisone [(35)S]sulphate in free-ranging animals is discussed.

Sulphur utilization during growth of pseudomonas fluorescens on potassium D-glucose 6-O-sulphate

Pseudomonas fluorescens N.C.I.B. 8248 was adapted to grow on potassium d-glucose 6-O-sulphate as the sole carbon and sulphur source. Adapted bacteria grew optimally at 37 degrees C on 1.6% (w/v) sulphate ester and growth coincided with the disappearance of the ester from the culture medium at a rate of 2.4mg/h per ml. Three sulphated compounds were detected in the culture fluid at the termination of growth. One of these was present in traces only and has not been identified. The second was present in somewhat greater amounts and was identified as the 6-O-sulphate ester of d-gluconate, and the major metabolite was identified as d-glycerate 3-O-sulphate. Sulphur utilization by the organism was not associated with the appearance of a glycosulphatase enzyme in the cells. However, a novel enzyme system (or systems) was present that liberated inorganic (35)SO(4) (2-) ions from dipotassium d-gluconate 6[(35)S]-O-sulphate and from dipotassium dl-glycerate 3[(35)S]-O-sulphate. Activity towards the latter substrate could not be detected when the adapted or parent Pseudomonas strain was cultured on d-glucose and potassium sulphate as respective carbon and sulphur sources. Some properties of the enzyme acting on the glycerate ester are recorded.

The glycosulphatase of Trichoderma viride

The growth of the mould Trichoderma viride on a defined medium containing either potassium d-glucose 6-O-sulphate or potassium d-galactose 6-O-sulphate as sole sources of both carbon and sulphur is marked by the production of an enzyme system capable of liberating inorganic SO(4) (2-) ions from either of the sulphate esters. The enzyme is not produced when the organism is grown with glucose (or galactose) and potassium sulphate or with glucose and methionine as sole sources of carbon and sulphur. Experimental conditions are described whereby inorganic SO(4) (2-) ions liberated from potassium glucose 6-O-sulphate by the growing mould appear in the culture medium after a constant lag period of 21-24hr. The enzyme has been shown to be a simple glycosulphatase that is active towards the 6-O-sulphate esters of d-glucose and d-galactose but not towards potassium glucose 3-O-sulphate. The properties of the crude glycosulphatase show the enzyme to be appreciably different from analogous molluscan enzymes that can degrade monosaccharide sulphate esters.