title: Initial mushroom tyrosinase-catalysed oxidation product of 4-hydroxyanisole is 4-methoxy-ortho-benzoquinone.
abstract: Evidence is presented that the first and major product of the oxidation of 4-hydroxyanisole (4HA) by tyrosinase is 4-methoxy ortho benzoquinone (4-MOB). 4-MOB was synthesized by oxidation of 4HA by potassium nitrodisulphonate and comparisons made between the synthetic quinone and an extract of a reaction mixture in which 4HA had been completely oxidized by mushroom tyrosinase. The chemical species were found to be identical in UV/visible absorption spectrum, 1H-NMR spectrum, and by thin-layer chromatography.
authors.affiliation: Biology Department, Brunel University, Uxbridge, Middlesex, U.K.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Naish
authors.forename: C J
authors.initials: CJ
authors.lastname: Cooksey
authors.forename: P A
authors.initials: PA
authors.lastname: Riley
mesh_terms: D000840:Anisoles / Q000378:metabolism*; D001487:Basidiomycota / Q000201:enzymology*; D016227:Benzoquinones; D004156:Catechol Oxidase / Q000378:metabolism*; D009682:Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy; D014442:Monophenol Monooxygenase / Q000378:metabolism*; D010084:Oxidation-Reduction; D011809:Quinones / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D013056:Spectrophotometry, Ultraviolet
chemical_list: D000840:Anisoles; D016227:Benzoquinones; D011809:Quinones; C058960:4-methoxy-1,2-benzoquinone; C009760:mequinol; D004156:Catechol Oxidase; D014442:Monophenol Monooxygenase