Human fetal adrenal hydroxysteroid sulphotransferase: cDNA cloning, stable expression in V79 cells and functional characterisation of the expressed enzyme

Dehydroepiandrosterone sulphate (DHEAS) is a major adrenal secretory product, particularly in the fetus where it serves as a substrate for oestrogen biosynthesis by the placenta. The enzyme in the adrenal responsible for synthesising DHEAS, hydroxysteroid sulphotransferase (HST), is therefore essential for human development. We have isolated a full-length cDNA clone, encoding human fetal adrenal HST, and constructed a stable cell line expressing it by transfection into V79 Chinese hamster lung fibroblast cells. This cDNA was essentially identical to that isolated from adult human liver, where the role of HST is less well understood. This recombinant cell line allowed determination of the su…