Relationships between Tyrosinase Activity and Gill Browning during Preservation of Lentinus edodes Fruit-bodies.

A correlation between tyrosinase activity and gill browning during preservation of Lentinus edodes fruit-bodies was observed. Latent-type tyrosinase was recognized in the precipitate of the gill homogenate, and activation of the tyrosinase was brought about by incubating the precipitate with acidic buffer. Changes in latent- and active-type tyrosinase content during gill browning indicated the possibility of a de novo synthesis of latent-type tyrosinase.