Sulfonation and SULTs

Hepatic sulfation (or more correctly sulfonation) of drugs is a common phase II metabolic mechanism for increasing hydrophilicity in preparation for biliary or urinary excretion. Sulfonation may occur directly (i.e., acetaminophen) or may follow phase I oxidation (i.e., hydroxyphenobarbital). However, hepatic sulfonation can also 

FIGURE 3.4 Cytosolic human sulfotransferase enzymes. (Adapted from [33].) 

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