A perspective on the biotechnological applications of the versatile tyrosinase

Tyrosinase (E.C. 1.14.18. 1) is a type of Cu-containing oxidoreductase which has bifunctional activity for various phenolic substrates: ortho-hydroxylation of monophenols to diphenols (a cresolase activity) and oxidation of diphenols to quinones (a catecholase activity). Based on the broad substrate spectrum, tyrosinase has been used in bioremediation of phenolic pollutants, constructing biosensors for identifying phenolic compounds, and L-DOPA synthesis. Furthermore, not only tyrosinase has been used to produce useful polyphenol derivatives, but also it is recently revealed that the promiscuous activity of tyrosinase is closely related with delignification in the biorefinery. Accordingly, tyrosinase might be a potential biocatalyst for industrial applications (e.g., electroenzymatic L-DOPA production, but its long-term stability and reusability should be further explored. In this review, we emphasize the versatility of tyrosinase, which includes conventional applications, and suggest new perspectives as an industrial biocatalyst (e.g., electroenzymatic L-DOPA production). Especially, this review focuses on and comprehensively discusses recent innovative studies.