Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jul 28, 2026

Demonstration of the Sequence Alignment to Predict Across Species Susceptibility Tool for Rapid Assessment of Protein Conservation
Published on: February 10, 2023
Sulfation of thyroid hormone by estrogen sulfotransferase
M H Kester1, C H van Dijk, D Tibboel
1Department of Internal Medicine III, Erasmus University Medical School, Rotterdam, The Netherlands.
Abstract:
Sulfation is one of the pathways by which thyroid hormone is inactivated. Iodothyronine sulfate concentrations are very high in human fetal blood and amniotic fluid, suggesting important production of these conjugates in utero. Human estrogen sulfotransferase (SULT1E1) is expressed among other tissues in the uterus. Here we demonstrate for the first time that SULT1E1 catalyzes the facile sulfation of the prohormone T4, the active hormone T3 and the metabolites rT3 and 3,3'-diiodothyronine (3,3'-T2) with preference for rT3 approximately 3,3'-T2 > T3 approximately T4. Thus, a single enzyme is capable of sulfating two such different hormones as the female sex hormone and thyroid hormone. The potential role of SULT1E1 in fetal thyroid hormone metabolism needs to be considered.
More Related Videos
Related Concept Videos
Preparation and Reactions of Thiols
Preparation and Reactions of Sulfides
Drug Metabolism: Phase II Reactions
Synthesis and Regulation of Thyroid Hormones
Upon reaching the thyroid gland, TSH stimulates the follicular cells' active uptake of iodide ions from the blood. The ions diffuse to the apical surface of the cells and are oxidized to iodine. The iodine is then...
Phase II Reactions: Sulfation and Conjugation with α-Amino Acids
Sulfur Assimilation

