Zeitschrift für Proteomik und Enzymologie

Tyrosinase and Tyrosinase Inhibitors

Tsong-Min Chang

Tyrosinase and Tyrosinase Inhibitors

Melanin is responsible for skin color and plays an important role in protection of the skin against UV light induced damage. During the melanin biosynthesis pathway, tyrosinase (EC 1.14.18.1) is the rate-limiting enzyme that hydroxylates L-tyrosine to L-3,4- dihydroxyphenylalanine (L-DOPA), and L-DOPA is further oxidized to the corresponding o-dopaquinone.