EXPRESSION OF GALCER SULFOTRANSFERASE BY HUMAN UTERINE ENDOMETRIAL CARCINOMA CELL-LINES

We investigated the expression of sulfoglycolipids in several gynecolo gical cancer cell lines by metabolic labeling with S-35-sulfate as wel l as the activity of GalCer sulfotransferase (ST) and arylsulfatase A (ASA), enzymes which are responsible for the synthesis and degradation of sulfoglycolipids. The endometrial carcinoma cell lines expressed s ulfoglycolipids and showed ST activity, indicating that increased synt hesis of sulfoglycolipids due to elevated ST activity is a characteris tic of endometrial carcinoma that distinguishes it from other carcinom as. These cell lines could provide a useful model for studying the fun ctions of sulfoglycolipids as well as biological properties of ST in c ancer cells.