Catalysis and inactivation of tyrosinase in its action on o-diphenols, o-aminophenols and o-phenylendiamines: Potential use in industrial applications

Catechol-mimicking transition-state analogues as non-oxidizable inhibitors of tyrosinases

Tyrosinases are copper-containing metalloenzymes involved in several processes in both mammals, insects, bacteria, fungi and plants. Their phenol oxidation properties are especially responsible for human melanogenesis, potentially leading to abnormal pigmentation, and for postharvest vegetable tissue browning. Thus, targeting tyrosinases attracts interest for applications both in dermocosmetic and agrofood fields. However, a large part of the literature about tyrosinase inhibitors is dedicated to the report of copper-interacting phenolic compounds, that are more likely alternative substrates leading to undesirable toxic quinones production. To circumvent this issue, the use of catechol-mimicking copper-chelating groups that are analogues of the tyrosinase oxidation transition state appears as a valuable strategy. Relying on several non-oxidizable pyridinone, pyrone or tropolone moieties, innovative inhibitors were developed, especially within the past decade, and the best reported analogues reached IC50 values in the nanomolar range. Herein, we review the design, the activity against several tyrosinases, and the proposed binding modes of reported catechol-mimicking, non-oxidizable molecules, in light of recent structural data.

A De Novo-Designed Type 3 Copper Protein Tunes Catechol Substrate Recognition and Reactivity

De novo metalloprotein design is a remarkable approach to shape protein scaffolds toward specific functions. Here, we report the design and characterization of Due Rame 1 (DR1), a de novo designed protein housing a di-copper site and mimicking the Type 3 (T3) copper-containing polyphenol oxidases (PPOs). To achieve this goal, we hierarchically designed the first and the second di-metal coordination spheres to engineer the di-copper site into a simple four-helix bundle scaffold. Spectroscopic, thermodynamic, and functional characterization revealed that DR1 recapitulates the T3 copper site, supporting different copper redox states, and being active in the O₂ -dependent oxidation of catechols to o-quinones. Careful design of the residues lining the substrate access site endows DR1 with substrate recognition, as revealed by Hammet analysis and computational studies on substituted catechols. This study represents a premier example in the construction of a functional T3 copper site into a designed four-helix bundle protein.

Biotransformation of phenol in synthetic wastewater using the functionalized magnetic nano-biocatalyst particles carrying tyrosinase

Low conversion efficiency and long-processing time are some of the major problems associated with the use of biocatalysts in industrial processes. In this study, modified magnetic iron oxide nanoparticles bearing tyrosinase (tyrosinase-MNPs) were employed as a magnetic nano-biocatalyst to treat phenol-containing wastewater. Different factors affecting the phenol removal efficiency of the fabricated nano-biocatalyst such as catalyst dosage, pH, temperature, initial phenol concentration, and reusability were investigated. The results proved that the precise dosage of nano-biocatalyst was able to degrade phenol at the wide range of pHs and temperatures. The immobilized tyrosinase showed proper phenol degradation more than 70%, where the substrate with a high concentration of 2500 mg/L was subjected to phenol removal. The nano-biocatalyst was highly efficient and reusable, since it displayed phenol degradation yields of 100% after the third reuse cycle and about 58% after the seventh cycle. Moreover, the immobilized tyrosinase was able to degrade phenol dissolved in real water samples up to 78% after incubation for 60 min. It was also reusable at least seven cycles in the real water sample. The results proved the effectiveness and applicability of the fabricated nano-biocatalyst to treat phenol-containing wastewaters in a shorter time and higher efficiency even at high phenol concentration. The developed nano-biocatalyst can be promising for the micropollutants removal and an alternative for the catalysts used in traditional treatment processes.

Integrated biodetection in a nanofluidic device

The sensing of enzymatic processes in volumes at or below the scale of single cells is challenging but highly desirable in the study of biochemical processes. Here we demonstrate a nanofluidic device that combines an enzymatic recognition element and electrochemical signal transduction within a six-femtoliter volume. Our approach is based on localized immobilization of the enzyme tyrosinase in a microfabricated nanogap electrochemical transducer. The enzymatic reaction product quinone is localized in the confined space of a nanochannel in which efficient redox cycling also takes place. Thus, the sensor allows the sensitive detection of minute amounts of product molecules generated by the enzyme in real time. This method is ideally suited for the study of ultra-small-volume systems such as the contents of individual biological cells or organelles.

Determination of tyrosinase substrate-binding modes reveals mechanistic differences between type-3 copper proteins

Tyrosinase is responsible for the two initial enzymatic steps in the conversion of tyrosine to melanin. Many tyrosinase mutations are the leading cause of albinism in humans, and it is a prominent biotechnology and pharmaceutical industry target. Here we present crystal structures that show that both monophenol hydroxylation and diphenol oxidation occur at the same site. It is suggested that concurrent presence of a phenylalanine above the active site and a restricting thioether bond on the histidine coordinating CuA prevent hydroxylation of monophenols by catechol oxidases. Furthermore, a conserved water molecule activated by E195 and N205 is proposed to mediate deprotonation of the monophenol at the active site. Overall, the structures reveal precise steps in the enzymatic catalytic cycle as well as differences between tyrosinases and other type-3 copper enzymes.

Study of silver nanoparticles sensitized fluorescence and second-order scattering of terbium(III)-pefloxacin mesylate complex and determination of pefloxacin mesylate

α-Keto acid of pefloxacin mesylate (PFLX) can form the complex with Terbium(III). The intramolecular energy from PFLX to Terbium(III) ion takes place when excited, and thus Terbium(III) excited state is formed and then emits the characteristic fluorescence of Terbium(III), locating at 490, 545, 580, and 620 nm. The second-order scattering (SOS) peak at 545 nm also appears for the complex with the exciting wavelength of 273 nm. When the silver nanoparticles are added to the system, the luminescence intensity at 545 nm greatly increased. So, with the adding of nanoparticles to the Terbium(III)-PFLX complex, not only is the intramolecular energy promoted but also the SOS intensity is enhanced. The experimental results show that it is the silver nanoparticles with certain size and certain concentration which can greatly enhance the fluorescence-SOS intensity, and the relative intensity at 545 nm is proportional to the amount of PFLX. Based on this phenomenon, a novel method for the determination of PFLX has been developed and applied to the determination of PFLX in capsule and serum samples.