The soluble sulfotransferases contribute to the elimination of xenobiotics, the activation of procarcinogens and the regulation of hormones. Members of the three groups comprising this superfamily show selectivity to certain substrate compounds. SULT1 sulfotransferases exhibit N-sulfating activities of carcinogenic heterocyclic amines, and are selective toward phenols, whereas SULT2 enzymes prefer hydroxysteroids and SULT3 family members are selective for N-substituted aryl and alicyclic compounds. SULT2A1 catalyzes the sulfonation of procarcinogen xenobiotics, hydroxysteroids and bile acids, and is highly expressed in adrenal and liver tissues. SULT2A1 plays a role in hepatic cholesterol homeostasis. SULT2B1 consists of two isoforms, SULT2B1a and SULT2B1b, which are transcribed from the same gene by alternative splicing of their first exons. Both isoforms are highly selective for the sulphation of 3b-hydroxysteroids such as pregnenolone, epiandrosterone, DHEA and androstenediol. SULT2B1b is expressed in prostate, skin, placenta and lung.
