Sulfate ester formation and hydrolysis: a potentially important yet often ignored aspect of the sulfur cycle of aerobic soils.

INTRODUCTION.............................................................. 698 STATUS OF SULFUR IN AEROBIC SOILS..................................... 698 Inorganic Sulfur ........................................................... 698 Carbon-Bonded Sulfur ....................................................... 699 Ester Sulfate ............................................................... 700 ORIGINS OF SOIL ESTER SULFATE ......... ............................... 702 Mammalian Sources ......................................................... 702 Microbial and Plant Sources .................................................. 702 Generation of Choline Sulfate ..................... ........................... 703 MINERALIZATION OF ESTER SULFATE .......... .......................... 704 PHYSIOLOGICAL FUNCTION OF MICROBIAL SULFOHYDROLASES ....... 705 Regulation of Sulfohydrolase Synthesis and Activity ........ ................... 705 Localization of Sulfohydrolase Activity ............ ........................... 707 Sulfohydrolase Stability In Vivo and In Vitro ......... ........................ 709 SOURCES OF INORGANIC SULFATE FOR AEROBIC SOILS ...... .......... 709 Elemental and Sulfide Sulfur ................................................. 709 Sulfate Ester Hydrolysis ..................................................... 710 Atmospheric Pollution ....................................................... 710 Sulfonates, Sulfamates, and the Sulfated-Thioglycosides ....... ................ 710 S-Containing Amino Acids................................................... 711 PRACTICAL AND FUTURE CONSIDERATIONS ........ ...................... 711 LITERATURE CITED......................................................... 713