In vivo modification of 3'-phosphoadenosine 5'-phosphosulfate and sulfate by infusion of sodium sulfate, cysteine, and methionine.

The importance of tissue sulfate concentrations in regulating 3'-phosphoadenosine 5'-phosphosulfate (PAPS) synthesis is not known. Therefore, this study was conducted to determine the influence of increased availability of inorganic sulfate on steady-state PAPS concentrations in various tissues. To increase tissue sulfate concentrations, 2-16 mmol/kg of sodium sulfate and sulfur-containing amino acids (cysteine or methionine) were infused intravenously for 2 hr into pentobarbital-anesthetized rats. Serial blood samples were taken during the infusion and analyzed for sulfate concentrations. After 2 hr of infusion, liver, kidney, and brain were removed for quantification of tissue PAPS and sulfate concentrations. Infusion of sodium sulfate, cysteine, and methionine increased serum and tissue sulfate concentrations in a dose- and time-dependent manner. Serum sulfate concentrations increased from 0.8 to 14 mM during the infusion of sodium sulfate, whereas infusions of cysteine and methionine increased serum sulfate concentrations to 4.8 and 2.0 mM, respectively. Tissue sulfate concentrations also increased during sulfate infusion. Liver sulfate concentration increased from 0.8 to 4.8 mM, kidney concentration increased from 0.6 to 31 mM, and brain concentration increased from 0.1 to 0.6 mM. Similar to the serum sulfate concentrations, sulfate infusion was the most effective in increasing tissue sulfate concentrations, cysteine was intermediate, and methionine the least effective. Although sulfate concentrations in liver, kidney, and brain increased 6-, 50-, and 6-fold by infusing sulfate, respectively; tissue PAPS levels were not altered markedly. Hepatic PAPS concentrations increased significantly (30-35%) only when infused with the higher doses (8 or 16 mmol/kg/2 hr) of sodium sulfate.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)