Enzymatic sulfation of exogenous high molecular weight glycopeptides by microsomal fraction of the rabbit uterine endometrium

J Biol Chem. 1985 Jun 10;260(11):6851-6.

Abstract

Incorporation of radioactive sulfate into exogenous glycopeptides and glycoproteins from adenosine 3'-phosphate 5'-phospho[35S]sulfate was studied with the microsomal fraction of the uterine endometrium of rabbits. A high molecular weight (Mr greater than 750,000) glycopeptide fraction from rat adenocarcinoma was found to be active as substrate, while several other glycoproteins were not. The rate of incorporation of sulfate was almost proportional to the concentration of glycopeptide substrate, the quantity of microsomal fraction, and the length of the incubation period. Cellulose acetate membrane electrophoresis demonstrated that radioactivity was incorporated into the glycopeptide fraction. The radioactive glycopeptide was excluded from a Sephadex G-50 column, but the 35S radioactivity and oligosaccharides were found in the retarded fractions after treatment with alkali in the absence of sodium borohydride. These observations indicated the presence of an enzyme which catalyzes the transfer of sulfate residue from adenosine 3'-phosphate 5'-phosphosulfate into the carbohydrate units attached to the polypeptide via O-glycosidic linkage. The sulfotransferase activity was measured with the microsomal fractions from the animals which had been treated with female sex hormones. As a result, it was found that estrogen enhances the activity and that progesterone suppresses the effect of estrogen.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adenocarcinoma / analysis
  • Amino Acids / analysis
  • Animals
  • Chromatography, Gel
  • Electrophoresis, Cellulose Acetate
  • Endometrium / ultrastructure*
  • Estrogens / pharmacology
  • Female
  • Glycopeptides / metabolism*
  • Hydrogen-Ion Concentration
  • Microsomes / enzymology*
  • Molecular Weight
  • Phosphoadenosine Phosphosulfate / metabolism
  • Rabbits
  • Rats
  • Substrate Specificity
  • Sulfurtransferases / metabolism*

Substances

  • Amino Acids
  • Estrogens
  • Glycopeptides
  • Phosphoadenosine Phosphosulfate
  • Sulfurtransferases