Phenol sulphate, also known as phenylsulfate or aryl sulphate, belongs to the class of organic compounds known as phenylsulfates. Phenylsulfates are compounds containing a sulfate group conjugated to a phenyl group. In normal humans, phenol sulphate is primarily a gut-derived metabolite that arises from the activity of the bacterial enzyme tyrosine phenol-lyase, which is responsible for the synthesis of phenol from dietary tyrosine. Phenol sulphate can also arise from the consumption of phenol or from phenol poisoning. Phenol sulphate is produced from the conjugation of phenol with sulphate in the liver. In particular, phenol sulphate can be biosynthesized from phenol and phosphoadenosine phosphosulfate through the action of the enzyme sulfotransferase 1A1 in the liver. Phenol sulphate can be found in most mammals (mice, rats, sheep, dogs, humans) and likely most animals. Phenol sulphate is a uremic toxin. It is a protein-bound uremic solute that induces reactive oxygen species (ROS) production and decreases glutathione levels, rendering cells vulnerable to oxidative stress. In experimental models of diabetes, phenol sulphate administration has been shown to induce albuminuria and podocyte damage. In a diabetic patient cohort, phenol sulphate levels were found to significantly correlate with basal and predicted 2-year progression of albuminuria in patients with microalbuminuria. Tyrosine is converted to phenol by a bacterial enzyme called tyrosine phenol-lyase before it is converted to phenol sulphate in the liver by sulfotransferase 1A1.

Metabolism and Physiological Effects of Phenol sulphate References