Cytosolic Sulfotransferase 2B1/SULT2B1: Proteins and Enzymes

SULT2B1 (Sulfotransferase 2B1; also ST2B1 and alcohol sulfotransferase) is a 45-48 kDa member of the sulfotransferase 1 family of enzymes. SULT2B1 is widely expressed, being found in platelets, stratum granulosum keratinocytes, breast and prostatic epithelium, and syncytiotrophoblast cells. SULT2B1 catalyzes the sulfonation of DHEA, a precursor for sex steroids, and cholesterol, which supports stratification of the epidermis. Human SULT2B1 is 365 amino acids (aa) in length. There are PAPS binding sites between aa 70-75 and 147-155, a myristoylation motif between aa 255-259, and a Pro-rich region between aa 305-364 that may extend enzyme half-life. There is one 43 kDa splice form (ST2B1a) that shows an eight aa substitution for aa 1-23. It is expressed in fetal brain and generates pregnenolone sulfate, a steroid that modulates neurotransmitters. Full-length human SULT2B1 shares 71% aa identity with mouse SULT2B1.