Dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate or DHEA sulfate is a metabolite

Metabolite

Metabolites are the intermediates and products of metabolism. The term metabolite is usually restricted to small molecules. A primary metabolite is directly involved in normal growth, development, and reproduction. Alcohol is an example of a primary metabolite produced in large-scale by industrial...

 of dehydroepiandrosterone

Dehydroepiandrosterone

5-Dehydroepiandrosterone is a 19-carbon endogenous steroid hormone. It is the major secretory steroidal product of the adrenal glands and is also produced by the gonads and the brain. DHEA is the most abundant circulating steroid in humans....

 (DHEA) produced by the addition of a sulfate group, catalyzed by the sulfotransferase

Sulfotransferase

Sulfotransferases are transferase enzymes that catalyze the transfer of a sulfate group from a donor molecule to an acceptor alcohol or amine. The most common sulfate donor is 3'-phosphoadenosine-5'-phosphosulfate...

 enzyme

Enzyme

Enzymes are proteins that catalyze chemical reactions. In enzymatic reactions, the molecules at the beginning of the process, called substrates, are converted into different molecules, called products. Almost all chemical reactions in a biological cell need enzymes in order to occur at rates...

s SULT1A1

SULT1A1

Sulfotransferase 1A1 is an enzyme that in humans is encoded by the SULT1A1 gene.-Further reading:...

 and SULT1E1

SULT1E1

Estrogen sulfotransferase is an enzyme that in humans is encoded by the SULT1E1 gene.-Further reading:...

, which also produce estrone sulfate

Estrone sulfate

Estrone sulfate is a sulfated estrone.It has been described as a prognosis indicator for prostate cancer.It is a component of Premarin....

 from estrone

Estrone

Estrone is an estrogenic hormone secreted by the ovary as well as adipose tissue.Estrone is one of several natural estrogens, which also include estriol and estradiol...

. DHEA sulfate can also be back-converted to DHEA through the action of steroid sulfatase

Steroid sulfatase

Steroid sulfatase , formerly known as arylsulfatase C, is a sulfatase enzyme involved in the metabolism of steroids. It is encoded by the STS gene.- Function :...

.

In the zona reticularis

Zona reticularis

The zona reticularis is the innermost layer of the adrenal cortex, lying deep to the zona fasciculata and superficial to the adrenal medulla. The cells are arranged cords that project in different directions giving a net-like appearance The zona reticularis is the innermost layer of the adrenal...

 layer of the adrenal cortex

Adrenal cortex

Situated along the perimeter of the adrenal gland, the adrenal cortex mediates the stress response through the production of mineralocorticoids and glucocorticoids, including aldosterone and cortisol respectively. It is also a secondary site of androgen synthesis.-Layers:Notably, the reticularis in...

, DHEA-sulfate is generated by SULT2A1

SULT2A1

Alcohol sulfotransferase is an enzyme that catalyzes the sulfate conjugation of primary and secondary alcohols including many hormones, neurotransmitters, drugs, and xenobiotic compounds.- Family members :...

. This layer of the adrenal cortex is thought to be the primary source of serum DHEA-sulfate. DHEA sulfate levels decline as a person ages as the reticularis layer diminishes in size.