Subunit interactions in tyrosinase from frog epidermis in immobilized enzyme systems

1. Frog epidermis tyrosinase was coupled to Sepharose activated with low concentrations of CNBr. The tetrameric form of the enzyme was linked to the matrix via its subunits. Dissociation of the bound active enzyme with guanidinium chloride yielded an active immobilized dimeric derivative. 2. Immobilized dimeric derivative was able to interact with soluble subunits formed transiently during renaturation. An 85% recovery of the native dopa oxidase specific activity was achieved after hybridization. 3. Fluorescence spectra of different immobilized derivatives suggested that tryptophan residues were involved in the interactions between tyrosinase subunits. 4. It is suggested that the activation of the subunits of tyrosinase involves a conformational change towards a more unfolded state, which favours a reassociation to the dimeric active state.