Introduction
Tyrosinase is an enzyme that controls the production of melanin, which is a pigment found in plants, animals, bacteria and fungi. Both tyrosinase and melanin is found in nearly all cells. Melanin is especially important in determining the skin and hair color of mammalians. It is synthesized by an array of oxidative reactions of the amino acid tyrosine when tyrosinase is present (Kim, Y. & Uyama, H., 2005). Tyrosine is first hydroxylated into dihydroxyphenylalanine (DOPA), which is then oxidized to dopaquinone. Dopaquinone can then be converted to dopachrome. After formation of dopachrome, a series of reactions within melanosomes can lead to the synthesis of either eumelanin, which is black or brown pigment, or pheomelanin, which is red or yellow in color (Kim, Y. & Uyama, H., 2005).
Tyrosinase causes the browning of fruits and vegetables, which is why tyrosinase inhibitors are so important to study in the food and agriculture industry. This browning takes place in the presence of oxygen when the cell …show more content…
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