Sulfatase

Function

Sulfatase hydrolyzes sulfate esters. The enzymes take part in the cycling of sulfur^[1]. The arylsulfatase name is derived from the fact that nitrophenyl-sulfate is their standard substrate.

• Arylsulfatase A hydrolyzes cerebroside-sulfate.
  
• Arylsulfatase B hydrolyzes dermatan sulfate.
  
• Alkylsulfatase hydrolyzes SDS and other alkyl sulfate derivatives.
  
• Estrone sulfatase hydrolyzes sulfated steroids.
  
• N-acetylgalactosamine-6-sulfatase hydrolyzes chondroitin sulfate and keratin sulfate. For details see Molecular Playground/Human Galactosamine-6-sulfatase.
  

Disease

Mutations in arylsulfatase result in lysosomal storage disorders. Sulfatases are implicated in pathophysiological conditions in hormone-dependent cancer, developmental abnormalities and bacterial pathogenesis.