Sulfation of tyrosyl residue(s) has been found to be a post-translational modification that precedes the secretion of many biologically active proteins or peptides. In the present paper, we report on the characterization of human liver tyrosylprotein sulfotransferase (TPST), the enzyme responsible for sulfation of tyrosine in proteins. Using poly Glu,Ala,Tyr (6:3:1; EAY) as the model substrate, human liver TPST was recovered in the microsomal fraction after differential centrifugation. This enzyme displayed a pH optimum of 6.4 and was stimulated approximately 2.5-fold in the presence of 0.5% non-ionic detergents, such as Lubrol-PX and Triton X-100. The divalent cation Mn2+ was required for enzymatic activity and produced maximal activation at 30 mM, whereas other divalent cations, including Mg2+ and Co2+, failed to enhance sulfoconjugation at this concentration. Using the optimized assay condition, the apparent Km for EAY was found to be approximately 1.5 microM, with significant substrate inhibition at EAY concentrations above 2 microM. The 16 amino acid peptide of the C-terminus of C4 possessed an apparent Km of approximately 2.1 microM. Using EAY as a substrate, TPST activity was measured in liver samples from ten organ donors to detect the variability of this enzyme among human subjects. The activity in the male group (1.065 +/- 0.074 pmol/min/mg) was significantly (P less than 0.005) higher than that of the female group (0.662 +/- 0.158 pmol/min/mg), suggesting that TPST activity may be regulated, in part, by sex hormones.