Search results for "Mimosine"

Kinetic properties of hexameric tyrosinase from the crustacean Palinurus elephas.

2008

Tyrosinases catalyze hydroxylation of monophenols to o-diphenols and their subsequent oxidation to o-quinones, whereas catecholoxidases catalyze only the latter reaction. Both enzymes occur in all organisms and are Type 3 copper proteins that perform the first steps of melanin formation. In arthropods, they play an essential role in the sclerotization of the exoskeleton. Very few phenoloxidases are characterized structurally or kinetically and the existence of an actual tyrosinase activity has not been demonstrated in most cases. Here we present for the first time a complete kinetic characterization of a tyrosinase from a crustacean (Palinurus elephas) including the influence of inhibitors.…