| Budget Amount *help |
¥5,200,000 (Direct Cost: ¥4,000,000、Indirect Cost: ¥1,200,000)
Fiscal Year 2014: ¥1,430,000 (Direct Cost: ¥1,100,000、Indirect Cost: ¥330,000)
Fiscal Year 2013: ¥1,300,000 (Direct Cost: ¥1,000,000、Indirect Cost: ¥300,000)
Fiscal Year 2012: ¥1,170,000 (Direct Cost: ¥900,000、Indirect Cost: ¥270,000)
Fiscal Year 2011: ¥1,300,000 (Direct Cost: ¥1,000,000、Indirect Cost: ¥300,000)
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| Outline of Final Research Achievements |
Tyrosinase (polyphenol oxidase) is a copper-containing oxidoreductase, which is widely distributed in nature. Many monophenols are oxidized to corresponding o-quinones through this enzymatic reaction. Generated o-quinones are usually unstable and readily transformed into polymers including melanin. This polymer results in significant deposition of pigments on the skin. Accordingly, the study of tyrosinase inhibition is clearly important for the development of functional cosmetics as well as antioxidants and insecticides. On the other hand, reactive o-quinones are reduced to o-diphenols with the aid of reducing agents such as L-ascorbic acid and/or NADPH. Thus, unique o-diphenols could be generated from plant monophenols by tyrosinase-catalyzed oxidation coupled with in vivo reductants. To perform chemical and biological studies of inhibitors, substrates and products for tyrosinase, we have discovered a number of novel bioactive compounds.
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