Chiral Inversion of 1-Hydroxyethylpyrene Enantiomers Mediated by Enantioselective Sulfotransferases

The benzylic alcohol 1-hydroxyethylpyrene (1-HEP) is activated to a mutagen by sulfotransferases. The sulfuric acid ester formed is difficult to detect, as it is rapidly hydrolysed back to the alcohol. Incubation of the individual enantiomers of 1-HEP with human hydroxysteroid sulfotransferase (hHST) or estrogen sulfotransferase (hEST), expressed in bacteria, led to the formation of the other enantiomer. The rates of sulfation were determined from the initial rates of chiral inversion of the alcohol, knowing that hydrolysis follows an SN1 mechanism and therefore produces racemic alcohol. hEST showed high enantioselectivity for S-1-HEP, whereas hHST strongly preferred the R-enantiomer. The r…