Tyrosinase Inhibition: Its Role in Suntanning and in Albinism

Abstract

Tyrosinase inhibitor (molecular weight less than 5000; extracted from various melanomas) fully inhibits soluble tyrosinase but only partially inhibits tyrosinase "aggregated" into melanosomes; the inhibitor can be inactivated by ultraviolet light. S91 Albinotyrosinase Type B apparently cannot "aggregate" into melanosomes because its protein carrier is genetically altered. Therefore, albinotyrosinase remains vulnerable to its inhibitor and cannot produce melanin, even though the enzyme has a functioning active center.