tyrosinase

American  

[tahy-roh-si-neys, -neyz, tir-oh-] / ˈtaɪ roʊ sɪˌneɪs, -ˌneɪz, ˈtɪr oʊ- /

noun

Biochemistry.

1. an oxidizing enzyme, occurring in plant and animal tissues, that catalyzes the aerobic oxidation of tyrosine into melanin and other pigments.

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tyrosinase British  

/ ˌtaɪrəʊsɪˈneɪz, ˌtɪrəʊ- /

noun

1. an enzyme occurring in many organisms that is a catalyst in the conversion of tyrosine to the pigment melanin; inactivity of this enzyme results in albinism

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Etymology

Origin of tyrosinase

First recorded in 1895–1900; tyrosine + -ase

Example Sentences

It can also cause skin lightening by converting melanin to a lighter color and deactivating the enzyme tyrosinase, which helps produce the pigment.

From New York Times • Aug. 28, 2017

The nonscientific visitor," said the Los Angeles Bureau's John Koffend, "is bound to get lost, even with a guide, in an atmosphere charged with pi-mesons, v-particles, tyrosinase and halogenated cyclobutane carboxylic acid.

From Time Magazine Archive

Furth and Hugo Schneider showed that a tyrosinase could be obtained from the blood of certain insects, and, acting upon a chromogen present in the blood, converted it into a pigmentary substance of melanin-like nature.

From The Project Gutenberg Encyclopedia Volume 1 of 28 by Project Gutenberg

Hans Przibram also extracted a tyrosinase from the ink-sac of Sepia, and, causing it to act upon a watery solution of tyrosin, obtained a black pigment.

From The Project Gutenberg Encyclopedia Volume 1 of 28 by Project Gutenberg

Whether albinoes carry the tyrosinase or other ferment, or whether they carry the chromogen or chromogens, is not yet settled.

From The Project Gutenberg Encyclopedia Volume 1 of 28 by Project Gutenberg