Steroid sulfatase = aryl sulfatase C? Chromatographic and electrophoretic properties in extracts from placental microsomes and skin fibroblasts.

Although the deficiency of steroid sulfatase (STS) as well as aryl sulfatase C (ASC) activities in patients with X-linked recessive ichthyosis has been confirmed by several groups all over the world, the question whether STS = ASC is not yet completely answered. To obtain more information, Miranol H2M extracts from placental microsomes and cultured skin fibroblasts were subjected to gel permeation chromatography and polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. STS (3H-dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate) and ASC (4-methylumbelliferone sulfate) activities were estimated in the eluted gel permeation chromatography fractions and within the same gel cylinders in half gel slices. None of these two methods allowed a separation of the two microsomal sulfatase activities. From these results and from different behavior of STS and ASC (not deficient in uncultured skin preparations of X-linked recessive ichthyosis, different kinetic properties between STS and ASC, etc.) we propose microsomal sulfatase activities to be assembled in an enzyme aggregate.