INHIBITION OF HELICOBACTER-PYLORI GLYCOSULFATASE ACTIVITY TOWARDS HUMAN GASTRIC SULFOMUCIN BY A GASTROPROTECTIVE AGENT, SULGLYCOTIDE

1. A glycosulfatase activity towards human gastric sulfomucin was iden tified in the extracellular material elaborated by Helicobacter pylori , a pathogen implicated in the etiology of gastric disease. 2. The pur ified enzyme displayed an apparent molecular weight of 30 kDa, and exh ibited maximum activity at pH 5.7 in the presence of 0.3% Triton X-100 and 100 mM CaCl2. 3. The H. pylori glycosulfatase activity towards hu man gastric sulfomucin was inhibited by a gastroprotective agent, sulg lycotide. The inhibitory effect was proportional to the concentration of sulglycotide up to 20 mug/ml, at which a 98% decrease in mucin desu lfation occurred. However, the drug lost the inhibitory effect followi ng its chemical desulfation. 4. The results demonstrate that sulglycot ide is a potent inhibitor of H. pylori glycosulfatase and, hence, may be of value in the treatment of gastric disease associated with this b acterial infection.