The purification and some properties of the polyphenol oxidase from tea (Camellia sinensis L.).

1. Polyphenol oxidase (EC 1. 10. 3.-) from the shoots of the tea plant was purified about 5000-fold on a dry-weight basis. 2. At an intermediate stage of purification four soluble yellow fractions were obtained. They are believed to represent complexes of a basic enzyme protein with acidic phenolic oxidation products and nucleic acids. After removal of the complex-forming materials the fractions were blue and similar to each other. About 40% of the activity could not be extracted from the acetone-dried powder. 3. Each of the four blue fractions was resolved further into two species, A and B. The following results refer to species A. 4. The enzyme showed absorption maxima at 279mmu (E(1%) (1cm.), 13.5) and 611mmu (E(1%) (1cm.), 0.84) with a shoulder at 330mmu. The enzyme was bleached by substrate under anaerobic conditions and the colour was restored by oxygen. 5. The molecular weight measured by sedimentation and diffusion was 144000+/-16000. The copper content was 0.32% (w/w). 6. Kinetic constants are given for a number of substrates and inhibitors, including the natural substrates of the tea leaf. The specific activity towards pyrogallol was 373 units/mg. at 30 degrees . 7. The best substrates were o-dihydric phenols. Quinol and p-phenylenediamine were slowly oxidized. Monohydric phenols and ascorbic acid were not oxidized. 8. The kinetics of oxidation of most substrates are consistent with a mechanism in which oxidized and reduced forms of the enzyme form binary complexes with phenol and oxygen respectively. A modified mechanism is postulated for the oxidation of chlorogenic acid. 9. The relation of the results to the mechanism of tea fermentation is discussed.