ABSTRACT:Sulfotransferase (SULT) 1A1 is the major drug/xenobiotic-conjugating SULT isoform in human liver because of its broad substrate reactivity and high expression level. SULT1A1 sulfates estrogens with low micromolar K m values consistent with its affinity for sulfation of many small phenolic compounds. Binding studies showed the unexpected ability of 17␣-ethinylestradiol (EE2) to bind and inhibit SULT1A1 activity toward p-nitrophenol and -naphthol at low nanomolar concentrations, whereas EE2 was not sulfated until significantly higher concentrations were reached. EE2 had a K i of 10 nM for inhibiting p-nitrophenol and -naphthol sulfation and inhibited 17-estradiol (E2) sulfation in intact human MCF-7 breast cancer cells with a K i of 19 nM. In contrast, the K m for EE2 sulfation by SULT1A1 was 700 nM. The K d for EE2 binding of pure SULT1A1 was 0.5 ؎ 0.15 M; however, the K d for EE2 binding to the SULT1A1-PAP complex was >100-fold lower (4.3 ؎ 1.7 nM). The K d for E2 binding to SULT1A1 changed from 2.3 ؎ 0.9 to 1.2 ؎ 0.56 M in the presence of PAP. Docking studies with E2 indicate that E2 binds in a competent orientation in the resolved structure of SULT1A1 in the both presence and absence of 3-phosphoadenosine 5-phosphosulfate (PAPS). However, EE2 binds in a catalytically competent orientation in the absence of PAPS but in a noncompetent orientation via formation of a charge interaction with Tyr108 if PAPS is bound first. In conclusion, EE2 is a potent inhibitor, but not a substrate, of SULT1A1 at low nanomolar concentrations, indicating the possibility of drug-drug interactions during contraceptive therapy.