Human tyrosinase (Tyr) is involved in pigment biosynthesis, where mutations in its corresponding gene TYR have been linked to oculocutaneous albinism 1, an autosomal recessive disorder. Although the enzymatic capabilities of Tyr have been well-characterized, the thermodynamic driving forces underlying melanogenesis remain unknown. Here, we analyze protein binding using the diphenol oxidase behavior of Tyr and van ’t Hoff temperature-dependent analysis. Recombinant Tyr was expressed and purified using a combination of affinity and size-exclusion chromatography. Michaelis-Menten constants were measured spectrophotometrically from diphenol oxidase reactions of Tyr, using L-3,4-dihydroxyphenylalanine (L-DOPA) as a substrate, at temperatures: 25, 31, 37, and 43 °C. Under the same conditions, the Tyr structure and the L-DOPA binding activity were simulated using 3 ns molecular dynamics and docking. The thermal Michaelis-Menten kinetics data were subjected to the van ‘t Hoff analysis and fitted with the computational model. The temperature-dependent analysis suggests that the association of L-DOPA with Tyr is a spontaneous enthalpy-driven reaction, which becomes unfavorable at the final step of dopachrome formation.

Pigmentation is the result of a complex process by which the biopolymer melanin is synthesized and packed into melanosomes of melanocytes. Various types of oculocutaneous albinism (OCA), a series of autosomal recessive disorders, are associated with reduced pigmentation in the skin, eyes, and hair due to genetic mutations of proteins involved in melanogenesis. Human tyrosinase (Tyr) and tyrosinase-related protein 1 (Tyrp1) drives the enzymatic process of pigment bio-polymerization. However, within the melanogenic pathway, Tyrp1 has catalytic functions not clearly defined and distinct from Tyr. Here, we characterize the biochemical and biophysical properties of recombinant human Tyrp1. For this purpose, we purified and analyzed the intra-melanosomal domain (Tyrp1tr) for protein stability and enzymatic function in conditions mimicking the environment within melanosomes and the endoplasmic reticulum. The study suggests that Tyrp1tr is a monomeric molecule at ambient temperatures and below (<25 °C). At higher temperatures, >31 °C, higher protein aggregates form with a concurrent decrease of monomers in solution. Also, Tyrp1tr diphenol oxidase activity at pH 5.5 rises as both the pre-incubation temperature and the higher molecular weight protein aggregates formation increases. The enhanced protein activity is consistent with the volume exclusion change caused by protein aggregates.