Enzymatic 5-hydroxylation of L-dopa by a tyrosinase isolated from the sea anemone Metridium senile.

A particulate tyrosinase has been extracted and purified from tentacles of the sea anemone Metridium senile. The purified enzyme had properties in common with both mushroom and vertebrate tyrosinase and catalyzed three different reactions: oxidation of catechols, hydroxylation of L-tyrosine with L-dopa as cofactor and 5-hydroxylation of L-dopa. 5-Hydroxylation of L-dopa by an animal tyrosinase has not been reported earlier. The reaction could be analyzed under reducing conditions when the much faster oxidation of L-dopa to dopaquinone was inhibited. The conditions required for the accumulation of L-dopa and 5-hydroxydopa observed in vivo in tentacles of Metridium are discussed.