hymecromone and 4-nitrocatechol

Rat liver and human skin fibroblasts arylsulphatase A and B activities on both 4-methylumbelliferyl sulphate and 4-nitrocatechol sulphate were compared. The intracellular distribution of activity differed markedly when 4-methylumbelliferyl sulphate was used from that observed with 4-nitrocatechol sulphate. No discrimination between control and metachromatic leucodystrophy or mucopolysaccharidosis (type VI) could be achieved when 4-methylumbelliferyl sulphate was used as substrate. These results contrast sharply with those obtained with 4-nitrocatechol sulphate and cast doubt on the validity of 4-methylumbelliferyl sulphate as substrate for the determination of arylsulphatase A and B activities.

Topics: Animals; Catechols; Chondro-4-Sulfatase; Humans; Hymecromone; Liver; Lysosomes; Microsomes; Rats; Skin; Sulfatases