Biochemical studies of the peroxidase-mediated oxidation of tyrosine to melanin: demonstration of the hydroxylation of tyrosine by plant and human peroxidases

The ability of peroxidases to mediate the oxidation of dopa (3,4-dihydroxyphenylalanine) and other polyphenols to melanin is known (Maehly & However, it is not generally believed that peroxidases can mediate the oxidation of tyrosine to melanin. For this reason mammalian peroxidases have not been c'onsidered to have roles in the major pathways involving tyrosine hydroxylation, namely melanin synthesis and catecholamine synthesis.