Aluminofluorides and beryllofluorides as inhibitors of sulphatases. Analogues of hydrogen sulphate?

The inhibition of fluoride of sulphatase A from ox liver and of the sulphatases of Helix pomatia and Aspergillus oryzae is decreased by EDTA and increased by Al3+ or Be2+, implicating aluminofluorides and beryllofluorides in the reaction. The inhibition, which is reversible, takes several minutes to develop fully and, at least for the sulphatase of H. pomatia, is of a non-linear mixed competitive-non-competitive type. It is suggested that the aluminofluorides and beryllofluorides are acting as analogues of HSO4-. If so, then this behaviour must be considered, as well as their role as analogues of phosphate, in interpreting the effects of these compounds in intact cells.