Arylsulfatase of human tissue. Studies on a form of arylsulfatase B found predominantly in brain.

The distribution of soluble arylsulfatase (aryl-sulfate sulfohydrolases, EC 3.1.6.1) in human tissues was investigated by DEAE-cellulose chromatography, All tissues examined contained arylsulfatase A and arylsulfatase B. In addition, brain singularly contained significant quantities (15-25% of total arylsulfatase) of a minor anionic arylsulfatase from designated arylsulfatase Bm, whereas only trace amounts of arylsulfatase Bm were found in liver, kidney, testis and placenta. Arylsulfatase B and arylsulfatase Bm had equal activity toward methyl-umbelliferyl sulfate, nitrocatechol sulfate and a physiological substrate UDP-N-acetylgalactosamine 4-sulfate, but both forms were inactive toward the arylsulfatase A substrates cerebroside sulfate and ascorbic acid 2-sulfate. Purified preparations of placental arylsulfatase B, brain arylsulfatase Bm, and urinary arylsulfatase A did not hydrolyze estrone sulfate, dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate or pregnenolone sulfate. The physico-chemical properties of arylsulfatase Band arylsulfatase Bm differed with respect to thermal lability, DEAE-cellulose chromatography, polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and isoelectric focussing. In the latter technique, utilizing thin polyacrylamide slab gels, the isoelectric point for placental arylsulfatase B was 8.2, while brain arylsulfatase Bm resolved into 3 activity bands with pI values 6.8, 7.0 and 7.2. Although the physico-chemical properties differed, arylsulfatase B and arylsulfatase Bm appear to be functionally equivalent as well as generically related.