García-Borrón J C, Martinez J H, Arocas A, Solano F, Vicente V, Gómez S, Iborra J L, Lozano J A
Int J Biochem. 1985;17(9):995-1002. doi: 10.1016/0020-711x(85)90245-9.
Mouse melanoma tyrosinases exist in the cytoplasm of melanocytes and also in a particulate form, bound to melanosomes. The cytosolic isoenzyme activity is not expressed in the melanocytes in vivo. One of the mechanisms for the activity regulation is the existence of a soluble inhibitor. This inhibition is non-competitive with regard to L-dopa. Particulate tyrosinase can be solubilized from the melanosome by several agents, Brij 35 and Triton X-100 being the most effective ones. Melanin accumulation in the organelle produces a competitive inhibition of the activity.