A kinetic study of the melanization pathway between L-tyrosine and dopachrome.
Biochimica et biophysica acta
confidence
Key findings
Kinetic model proposed for melanization pathway from L-tyrosine to dopachrome; explains lag period and L-dopa accumulation via simulation.
View source on PubMed (PMID 3101741) ↗
- Population
- In vitro melanization pathway study
- Blinding
- not_reported
- Controls
- none
- Drug class
- amino acid
Full abstract
In the pathway of melanin biosynthesis originating from L-tyrosine, the dopachrome accumulation at physiological pH is produced with a pronounced lag period, during which the level of L-dopa increases, following a sigmoidal kinetics to reach a steady-state. A kinetic model has been proposed for the overall pathway of melanization from L-tyrosine to dopachrome; it explains the lag period present during the dopachrome accumulation as well as the influence of L-tyrosine and tyrosinase over this lag period. Use of this model is also valid to explain the kinetics of L-dopa accumulation in the reaction medium, as has been tested by simulation.