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Role of sulfhydryl compounds in the control of tyrosinase activity in Neurospora crassa

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Abstract

It is known that Neurospora crassa mycelia cultured in standard concentrations (76 to 190 µg/ml) of sulfate accumulate a low molecular weight inhibitor of tyrosinase (monophenol, dihydroxyphenylalanine: oxygen oxidorenductase; EC 1.14.1.18.1.). This is not observed in cultures grown under sulfate-limiting conditions. The chemical nature of tyrosinase inhibition was investigated. It was shown to be due to the low molecular weight sulfhydryl fraction of the extracts, in which glutathione is predominant. The concentration of low molecular weight sulfhydryl compounds decreased sharply in mycelia submitted to various treatments which also derepressed tyrosinase, such as (i) starvation in phosphate buffer, (ii) treatment with cycloheximide, and (iii) mating. These results suggest that the concentration of sulfhydryl compounds may be of physiological significance in the control of tyrosinase activity in N. crassa.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Departmentos de Bioquimica e Fisiologia, Faculdade de Medicina de Ribeirão Preto, Universidade de São Paulo, 14.100 Ribeirão Preto, São Paulo, Brasil

    Rolf Alexander Prade & Héctor F. Terenzi

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  1. Rolf Alexander Prade
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  2. Héctor F. Terenzi
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Additional information

This research was supported by Grant B 39/79/245/00/00 from FINEP. RAP received Fellowship 80/1407-1 from FAPESP. The authors are indebted to Dr. Renato H. Migliorini for his continuous interest and support.

Part of a thesis submitted by RAP to the Department of Biochemistry of the School of Medicine of Ribeirão Preto, Universidade de São Paulo, in partial fulfillment of the requirements for a master's degree.

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Prade, R.A., Terenzi, H.F. Role of sulfhydryl compounds in the control of tyrosinase activity in Neurospora crassa . Biochem Genet 20, 1235–1243 (1982). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00498946

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00498946

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