The Action of Tyrosinase on Phenols

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Abstract
The production of o-quinones by action of tyrosinase on certain phenols is established by allowing the action to take place in presence of aniline. Phenol and catechol give rise to an identical derivative of o-benzoquinone; p-cresol, m-cresol, and homocatechol to an identical derivative of homoquin-one. These substances are likewise obtained from catechol and homocatechol by the action of peroxidase and H2O2. Of further phenols tested with tyrosinase, only p- and m-methoxyphenol give an anilinoquinone. O-quinones are not stable end-products, and measurements of the O absorbed when tyrosinase acts on phenols indicate that some further reaction occurs involving oxidation. Since several diverse systems give rise to the "direct.oxidase" reaction of Bach and Chodat another classification is suggested, into aerobic and anaerobic oxidases. The former do not act in presence of H acceptors other than 0 or a peroxide; the latter will act in presence of some other suitable H acceptor.

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