Induction and inhibition of novel sulfotransferase in a human intestinal bacterium, Eubacterium sp. A-44

Induction and inhibition of a novel sulfotransferase produced by Eubacterium sp. A-44 isolated from human feces have been studied. Production of the enzyme was induced by phenylsulfate esters, sulfate donor substrates, but not by phenols, sulfate acceptor substrates, or inorganic sulfate. p-Nitrophenylsulfate (PNS), a good donor substrate, stimulated enzyme production more than 10-fold. Sulfotransferase production was strongly inhibited by phenylphosphate esters. Enzyme activity was competitively inhibited by phenylphosphate esters, but not by inorganic phosphate. High yields of sulfotransferase from sonicated cells were obtained when the bacteria were grown in a media containing 0.6% (w/v) or less of glycine.