Human anterior pituitary phenol sulfotransferase SULT1A1 and SULT1A3 activities

Sulfate conjugation is an important step in the metabolism of endogenous monoamine neurotransmitters, estrogens and thyroid hormones. Sulfotransferases (SULTs) catalyze the reactions using 3'-phosphoadenosine-5'-phosphosulfate (PAPS) as the sulfuryl donor. Our goal was to identify and measure SULT activities in the human anterior pituitary gland. Anterior pituitary SULT1A1, SULT1A3 and SULT1E1 mRNAs were identified by RT-PCR. SULT1A1 and SULT1A3 activities were measured in individual postmortem anterior pituitary samples. There were no significant correlations of either SULT activity with the length of time after death. The results supported the use of cadaveric human anterior pituitary glands for the study of these SULT activities.