Identification and characterization of zebrafish SULT1 ST9, SULT3 ST4, and SULT3 ST5

By searching the GenBank database, we identified sequences encoding three new zebrafish cytosolic sulfotransferases (SULTs). These three new zebrafish SULTs, designated SULT1 ST9, SULT3 ST4, and SULT3 ST5, were cloned, expressed, purified, and characterized. SULT1 ST9 appeared to be mostly involved in the metabolism and detoxification of xenobiotics such as β-naphthol, β-naphthylamine, caffeic acid and gallic acid. SULT3 ST4 showed strong activity toward endogenous compounds such as dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA), pregnenolone, and 17β-estradiol. SULT3 ST5 showed weaker, but significant, activities toward endogenous compounds such as DHEA and corticosterone, as well as xenobiotics including mestranol, β-naphthylamine, β-naphthol, and butylated hydroxyl anisole (BHA). pH-dependency and kinetic constants of these three enzymes were determined with DHEA, β-naphthol, and 17β-estradiol as substrates. Reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) was performed to examine the expression of these three new zebrafish SULTs at different developmental stages during embryogenesis, through larval development, and on to maturity.

► Three zebrafish SULTs, SULT1 ST9, SULT3 ST4, and SULT3 ST5, catalyze the sulfation of xenobiotic and endogenous compounds.
► pH-dependence results imply differential substrate recognitions among these three SULTs.
► Kinetic data indicate that the three zebrafish SULTs prefer different xenobiotic and endogenous compounds as substrates.
► RT-PCR analysis revealed distinct patters of developmental expression of the three zebrafish SULTs.