Cytosolic
estrogen sulfotransferase (SULT1E) mainly catalyzes the
sulfate conjugation of
estrogens, which decrease
atherosclerosis progression. Recently we reported that a YKEG sequence in human SULT1E1 (hSULT1E1) corresponding to residues 61-64 can bind specifically to
oxidized low-density lipoprotein (
Ox-LDL), which plays a major role in the pathogenesis of
atherosclerosis; its major oxidative
lipid component
lysophosphatidylcholine (LPC), and its structurally similar
lipid,
platelet-activating factor (PAF). In this study, we investigated the effect of
Ox-LDL on the sulfating activity of hSULT1E1. In vivo experiments using a mouse model of
atherosclerosis showed that the
protein expression of SULT1E1 was higher in the aorta of mice with
atherosclerosis compared with that in control animals. Results from a sulfating activity assay of hSULT1E1 using
1-hydroxypyrene as the substrate demonstrated that
Ox-LDL, LPC, and PAF markedly decreased the sulfating activity of hSULT1E1, whereas native
LDL and 1-palmitoyl-2-(5'-oxo-valeroyl)-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine (POVPC) as one of the oxidized
phosphatidylcholines showed the opposite effect. The sulfating activity greatly changed in the presence of LPC, PAF, and POVPC in their concentration-dependen manner (especially above their critical
micelle concentrations). Moreover,
Ox-LDL specifically recognized dimeric hSULT1E1. These results suggest that the effects of
Ox-LDL and native
LDL on the sulfating activity of hSULT1E1 might be helpful in elucidating the novel mechanism underlying the pathogenesis of
atherosclerosis, involving the relationship between
estrogen metabolism,
LDL, and
Ox-LDL.