Conversion of crustacean hemocyanin to catecholoxidase

Crustacean hemocyanin as oxygen carrier and catecholoxidase as enzymes belong to the same protein family (type 3 copper proteins) sharing very similar active sites. Treatment with SDS of these hemocyanins results in an opening of the entrance to the active site for bulky phenolic compounds. This demonstrates, that almost all hemocyanin subunits possess the ability of catecholoxidase activity.