Abstract
L-PHENYLALANINE inhibits the enzymatic oxidation of L-tyrosine by tyrosinase from mushrooms1 and from Harding-Passey mouse melanoma2. This evidence indicates that the high blood concentration of L-phenylalanine found in phenylketonuria might be largely responsible for the reduced pigmentation associated with this disease1,2. This explanation would be more acceptable if it could actually be shown that L-phenylalanine inhibits the formation of melanin3. Moreover, as phenylpyruvic acid is also found in the blood of phenylketonuria patients it was of interest to see whether this substance can affect formation of melanin. The present communication reports the effects of these aromatic acids on both the enzymatic activity of tyrosinase and the conversion of L-tyrosine to melanin.
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BOYLEN, J., QUASTEL, J. Effects of L-Phenylalanine and Sodium Phenylpyruvate on the Formation of Melanin from L-Tyrosine in Melanoma. Nature 193, 376–377 (1962). https://doi.org/10.1038/193376a0
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/193376a0
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