Phenoloxidase Production Research Articles

Salivary gland function in phenol oxidase production in Drosophila melanogaster

Of the five protein components that have been shown to be involved in phenol oxidase production in extracts of Drosophila melanogaster, component S is rate limiting in the activation process. By means of sectioning of whole animals and dissection of specific tissues it has been established that S is initially localized in the larval salivary gland where it is apparently produced and secreted. The S component appears to be released in the haemolymph in late third-instar larvae but it is not present in an active form in early prepupae. A procedure is given for the purification of and the measurement of the activity of the S component.

Laccase and Tyrosinase in some Wood-rotting Fungi

Several species of wood-rotting fungi have been examined for phenol oxidases. Polystictus sanguineus, a white rot, produces laccase, secreting it into the medium. This enzyme has been studied and partly purified. Phellinus cryptarum, another white rot, shows varied production of phenol oxidase according to the medium used for growth. Laccase only is produced on malt medium, whereas laccase and tyrosinase result after growth on a glucose and salt medium. Lentinus lepideus, a brown rot, produces tyrosinase on several media and this enzyme appears to be entirely intracellular.