On the Occurrence of Phenol and Steroid Sulphokinases in the Human Gastrointestinal Tract

Abstract

A survey of the distribution of phenol and steroid sulphokinases in the mucosa of the gastrointestinal tract has been undertaken by the use of 35S-labelled 3′-phosphoadenosine-5′-phosphosulphate (PAPS). The specimens studied were obtained from stomach, jejunum, ileum, and colon.Phenol and oestrone sulphokinase were present in all levels of the gastrointestinal tract. The various steroid alcohol sulphokinases studied (dehydroepiandrosterone (DHA), androsterone, etiocholane-3α-ol-17-one, pregnane-3α-ol-20-one, and pregnane-3 β-ol-20-one) were detected in the jejunal mucosa only. The optimal pH of some sulphokinases were estimated and found to be 6.3 for DHA sulphokinase, 5.5 for androsterone sulphokinase, and 7.2 for phenol sulphokinase in a preparation of jejunal mucosa.