ENZYMATIC SULFATION OF ISOAMYL GALLATE AND (-)-EPIGALLOCATECHIN GALLATE BY BACTERIAL ARYLSULFOTRANSFERASE

A novel type of arylsulfotransferase which was obtained from a human intestinal bacterium catalyzes the sulfation of polyphenols related to tannins. Isoamyl gallate and (-)-epigallocatechin gallate were found to be sulfated rapidly using p-nitrophenylsulfate as a donor substrate. In the case of isoamyl gallate, two sulfated products, 3-monosulfate and 4-monosulfate, were isolated when an equimolar amount of p-nitrophenylsulfate was incubated with isoamyl gallate. In the case of (-)-epigallocatechin gallate, 4'-monosulfate was isolated at an equimolar incubation of donor and acceptor. Thus, arylsulfotransferase was useful for the convenient preparation of sulfate esters of these polyphenols.