The First Crystal Structure of Tyrosinase: All Questions Answered?

Tyrosinases are essential enzymes that occur in all organisms and belong to the class of type3 copper proteins. The first crystal structure of a tyrosinase (from Streptomyces castaneoglobisporus) has been achieved and offers important insights into the mechanism of phenol hydroxylation (see scheme; Cu blue, O red, substrate orange; trans-axial position on CuA: gray dot), the process of activation, and the incorporation of copper.