title: Strategies for drug discovery by targeting sulfation pathways.
abstract: Posttranslational modifications of proteins such as phosphorylation have been recognized as pivotal modulators of biological activity in healthy and diseased tissues. Sulfation is a key posttranslational modification the role of which in physiology and pathology is only now becoming appreciated. Whereas phosphorylation is central to intracellular signal transduction, sulfation modulates cell-cell and cell-matrix communication. Sulfation involves a class of enzymes known as sulfotransferases, which transfer sulfate from the ATP-like sulfate donor 3'phosphoadenosine-5'phosphosulate to glycoproteins, glycolipids or metabolites. This review focuses on Golgi-localized sulfotransferases, their molecular biology and biochemistry, and strategies towards discovery of sulfotransferase inhibitors that could have potential as therapeutics in inflammation, cancer and infectious diseases.
authors.affiliation: Thios Pharmaceuticals, 5980 Horton Street #400, Emeryville, CA 94608, USA. stefan@thiospharm.com
authors.forename: Stefan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Hemmerich
authors.forename: Dawn
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Verdugo
authors.forename: Virginia L
authors.initials: VL
authors.lastname: Rath
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D015195:Drug Design; D006056:Golgi Apparatus / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D011499:Protein Processing, Post-Translational; D020543:Proteome; D015238:Sulfotransferases / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors* / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D020543:Proteome; D015238:Sulfotransferases