Conjugation of phenol by rat liver slices and homogenates.

Numerous contributions have been made to our knowledge of the process of conjugation of phenol in vivo (2, 3). The studies in vitro are related to the formation of either phenyl sulfate (4-6) or glucuronide (7-11). Because of the great difference in behavior towards hydrolysis of the sulfate and the glucuronide (12), the formation of phenyl sulfate and phenyl glucuronide can be followed simultaneously. Our earlier demonstration (5) that a properly fortified homogenate can conjugate phenol with sulfate has been followed by further work on the properties of the system. Liver slices and homogenates conjugate phenol with both sulfuric and glucuronic acids, in agreement with the findings in vivo. The homogenates employed, fortified with 0.001 M muscle adenylic acid (AMP)’ and 0.01 M a+ketoglutaric2 or succinic acid,3 show a predominant conjugation with sulfate. The system involved in phenyl sulfate formation appears to be distributed between mitochondria and the mitochondrium-free supernatant. Phenol was used as a model substance for the study of the mechanisms involved in the general process of formation of sulfuric acid ester. These studies may throw light on the synthetic processes concerned with the formation of mucoitin and chondroitinsulfuric acids and of heparin, among other substances.