Some biological properties and an in vivo evaluation of tyrosine phenol-lyase on growth of B-16 melanoma.

Tyrosine phenol-lyase from Erwinia herbicola was purified with the goal of assessing its effect on growth of malignant melanoma. Ammonium sulfate-sodium citrate fractionation and diethylaminoethyl cellulose-hydroxylapatite chromatography were used. The purified enzyme was shown to reduce plasma tyrosine levels when administered to normal C57BL x DBA/2 F1 mice. The plasma half-life value of the enzyme was found to be 6 to 7 hr. Unlike results reported with glutaminase and asparaginase preparations, the lactate dehydrogenase-elevating virus had no significant influence on plasma clearance of tyrosine phenol-lyase. The enzyme significantly inhibited growth of established B-16 melanoma tumors.