Tyrosinase-catalyzed unusual oxidative dimerization of 1,2-dehydro-N-acetyldopamine

Tyrosinase, which usually catalyzes the conversion of o-diphenols to o-benzoquinones, catalyzed an unusual oxidative dimerization of 1,2-dehydro-N-acetyl-dopamine to a benzodioxan derivative. The identity of the product was confirmed by UV, IR spectra, and NMR studies. During the oxidation, generation of a transient reactive intermediate could be witnessed by its characteristic visible absorption spectrum. Typical phenoloxidase inhibitors such as phenylthiourea, potassium cyanide, sodium azide, and sodium fluoride drastically inhibited the above reaction. Mimosine, a known competitive inhibitor of o-diphenoloxidase activity, also inhibited the new reaction competitively, suggesting that both the observed oxidative dimerization and the conventional quinone production are catalyzed by the same active site copper of tyrosinase. Based on our earlier findings (Sugumaran, M., and Lipke, H. (1983) FEBS Lett. 155, 65-68; Sugumaran, M. (1986) Biochemistry 25, 4489-4492) that phenoloxidases can produce quinone methides from certain 4-alkylcatechols, possible mechanisms for this new reaction are presented.