Different faces of phenoloxidase in animals

Authors

  • Sylwia Stączek Department of Immunology, Institute of Biology and Biochemistry, Faculty of Biology and Biotechnology, UMCS, Lublin, Poland
  • Katarzyna Grygorczuk Department of Immunology, Institute of Biology and Biochemistry, Faculty of Biology and Biotechnology, UMCS, Lublin, Poland
  • Agnieszka Zdybicka-Barabas Department of Immunology, Institute of Biology and Biochemistry, Faculty of Biology and Biotechnology, UMCS, Lublin, Poland
  • Anna Siemińska-Kuczer Department of Immunology, Institute of Biology and Biochemistry, Faculty of Biology and Biotechnology, UMCS, Lublin, Poland
  • Lidiia Vertyporokh Department of Immunology, Institute of Biology and Biochemistry, Faculty of Biology and Biotechnology, UMCS, Lublin, Poland
  • Mariola Andrejko Department of Immunology, Institute of Biology and Biochemistry, Faculty of Biology and Biotechnology, UMCS, Lublin, Poland
  • Iwona Wojda Department of Immunology, Institute of Biology and Biochemistry, Faculty of Biology and Biotechnology, UMCS, Lublin, Poland
  • Małgorzata Cytryńska Department of Immunology, Institute of Biology and Biochemistry, Faculty of Biology and Biotechnology, UMCS, Lublin, Poland

Abstract

Phenoloxidases are oxidoreducting enzymes whose main function is the oxidation of phenols. The term phenoloxidase is often used interchangeably to describe three different enzymes: tyrosinase (EC 1.14.18.1), catechol oxidase, and laccase. Of these, only tyrosinase has two activities: (1) oxygenase activity to hydroxylate monophenols to ortho-diphenols and (2) oxidase activity responsible for further oxidation of ortho-diphenols to ortho-quinones. Tyrosinase is a key enzyme involved in the melanogenesis process, resulting in the formation of black-brown eumelanin and yellow-red feomelanin. In addition to the pigmentary role, human melanin protects against harmful ultraviolet radiation, while in invertebrate animals melanin is involved in the process of cuticle hardening, wound healing, clot formation, maintenance of intestinal homeostasis and defense reactions. In invertebrates, the tyrosinase is synthesized as a proenzyme that is activated by a serine proteasesâ cascade known as the phenoloxidase system. This system is considered as one of the innate immunity mechanisms.

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Published

2017-12-20