Sulfotransferases intestinal expression

From the above, it is clear that the gut wall represents more than just a physical barrier to oral drug absorption. In addition to the requirement to permeate the membrane of the enterocyte, the drug must avoid metabolism by the enzymes present in the gut wall cell as well as counter-absorptive efflux by transport proteins in the gut wall cell membrane. Metabolic enzymes expressed by the enterocyte include the cytochrome P450, glucuronyltransferases, sulfotransferases and esterases. The levels of expression of these enzymes in the small intestine can approach that of the liver. The most well-studied efflux transporter expressed by the enterocyte is P-gp. 

SULT 2A and 2B sulfotransferase subfamily members sulfate the 3P-hydroxyl group of a variety of steroid hormones. Dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) is the prototypical substrate for the SULT 2 enzymes. However, other hydroxysteroids such as testosterone and its phase I hydroxylated derivatives are substrates for these enzymes. The SULT 2 sulfotransferases also are responsible for the sulfate conjugation of a variety of alcohols and xenobiotics that have undergone phase I hydro-xylation, including the polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs). The SULT 2 enzymes exhibit different patterns of tissue expression. SULT 2A1 is expressed primarily in the adrenal cortex, brain, liver, and intestine, while SULT 2B1 is expressed in the prostate, placenta, and trachea. 

---