Sulfation
Overview
 
Sulfation in biochemistry is the enzyme-catalyzed addition of sulfate
Sulfate
In inorganic chemistry, a sulfate is a salt of sulfuric acid.-Chemical properties:...

 to another molecule. It often refers to a phase II enzyme reaction. This biotransformation process uses its cosubstrate 3'-phosphoadenosine-5'-phosphosulfate
3'-Phosphoadenosine-5'-phosphosulfate
3'-Phosphoadenosine-5'-phosphosulfate is a derivative of adenosine monophosphate that is phosphorylated at the 3' position and has a sulfate group attached to the 5' phosphate. This anion, abbreviated PAPS, serves as a coenzyme in sulfotransferase reactions...

 (PAPS) to transfer sulfate to a xenobiotic
Xenobiotic
A xenobiotic is a chemical which is found in an organism but which is not normally produced or expected to be present in it. It can also cover substances which are present in much higher concentrations than are usual...

. Most of the time this is effective in rendering the xenobiotic less active from a pharmacological
Pharmacology
Pharmacology is the branch of medicine and biology concerned with the study of drug action. More specifically, it is the study of the interactions that occur between a living organism and chemicals that affect normal or abnormal biochemical function...

 and toxicological
Toxicology
Toxicology is a branch of biology, chemistry, and medicine concerned with the study of the adverse effects of chemicals on living organisms...

 standpoint, but sometimes it plays a role in the activation of xenobiotics (e.g.
 
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