DIFFERENTIATION OF TYROSINASE AND LACCASE USING 4-HEXYL-RESORCINOL, ATYROSINASE INHIBITOR

Crude extracts of Agaricus bisporus and partially purified mushroom ty rosinase contained tyrosinase and laccase activities. 4-Hexylresorcino l (4HR) and salicylhydroxamic acid (SHAM) inhibited tyrosinase, but no t laccase when selective substrates for tyrosinase and laccase were us ed in enzyme assays. Partially purified laccase from Pyricularia oryza e did not exhibit tyrosinase activity, nor was it inhibited by 4HR or SHAM. Both 4HR and SHAM selectively inhibited tyrosinase isoforms sepa rated by native electrophoresis. At low concentrations, 4HR was a sele ctive inhibitor of tyrosinase and could differentiate between tyrosina se and laccase activities.