Inhibition of mucopolysaccharide sulfation.

A method of measuring the inhibition of sulfation in mucopolysaccharides employed the coupled enzyme system of Wortman. This procedure utilized the phenol and mucopolysaccharide sulfotransferases of beef cornea extract. Compounds tested against this system included amino acids, salicylates, 2-mercaptoethylamine and a derivative, heterocyclic ethanethiosulfuric acids, arylsulfonamidoethanethiosulfates, and several other compounds. In general, the salicylates and thiosulfates were inhibitory, with sodiumm 2-(4-acetamidobenzenesulfonamido)-ethanethiosulfate being the most inhibitory and 2-mercaptoethylguanidine trithiocarbonic acid the second most inhibitory. Salicylamide and allopurinol, which have been employed in kidney stone therapy, were inhibitors. Kidney stones have a mucopolysaccharide sulfate matrix, which is involved in their growth.