Hymenolepis diminuta: Lack of sulphate activation and sulphotransferase activity

Abstract

There is no evidence that Hymenolepis diminuta can carry out sulphoconjugation reactions. Neither whole worms nor worm extracts were able to sulphate 4-methylumbelliferone. No sulphotransferase activity could be demonstrated in H. diminuta using a variety of substrates, nor was H. diminuta capable of synthesising the sulphate donor 3′-phosphoadenosine-5′-phosphosulphate from ATP and inorganic sulphate. Possible alternative sources of active sulphate in this parasite are discussed.