Sulfotransferase Family 2B, Member 1 (SULT2B1)

Sulfotransferase enzymes catalyze the sulfate conjugation of many hormones, neurotransmitters, drugs, and xenobiotic chemical compounds. The gene structure is similar among family members. This gene sulfates dehydroepiandrosterone but not 4-nitrophenol, a typical substrate for the phenol and estrogen sulfotransferase subfamilies. Two alternatively spliced variants that encode different isoforms have been described.The shorter cDNA, SULT2B1a, encodes a protein of 350 amino acids, and the longer cDNA, SULT2B1b, encodes a 365-amino acid protein. The proteins differ only at their N termini. Northern blot analysis revealed that the SULT2B1 gene is expressed as a 1.4-kb transcript predominantly in prostate, placenta, and trachea.