Carbohydrate sulfotransferases: novel therapeutic targets for inflammation, viral infection and cancer

Effective direct inhibition of adhesion receptors by small molecules has be en hampered by extended receptor-ligand interfaces as well as the entropic penalties often associated with inhibition of cell adhesion. Therefore, alt ernative strategies have targeted enzymes that are centrally involved in th e biosynthesis of recognition epitopes, which are crucial for productive ad hesion. Two classes of enzymes shown to play a pivotal role in cell-cell an d cell-matrix adhesions are the protein-tyrosine and carbohydrate sulfotran sferases, which impart crucial sulfate moieties onto glycoproteins. The car bohydrate sulfotransferases will be discussed in terms of target validation and small-molecule inhibitor discovery.