The sulphatase of ox liver. 6. Steroid sulphatase

Abstract

The presence of a steroid sulfatase in ox and rat liver is confirmed. The enzyme is localized in the microsomes and has not been obtained in a soluble form. Steroid sulfatase hydrolyzes the 3-[beta]-sulfates of the 5[alpha]-and [DELTA]5-series of steroids. The optimum substrate concentration is 0.2 m[image]-dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate and the optimum pH is 7.8 in 2-amino-2-hydroxymethylpropane-l:3-diol buffers. Steroid sulfatase is distinct from arylsulfatase C although the two enzymes are closely associated. Quantitatively the amount of steroid sulfatase in rat liver is negligible compared with the amounts of arylsulfatase present. The enzyme is present in amounts comparable with those of the system synthesizing steroid sulfate.