Inhibition of banana polyphenoloxidase by 2-mercaptobenzothiazole.

2-Mercaptobenzothiazole is an exceptionally potent inhibitor of banana polyphenoloxidase; it significantly delays the onset of substrate oxidation at concentrations as low as 10(-7)M and causes prolonged inhibition at 2 x 10(-5)M or higher. Inhibition results from formation of a dissociable, mixed complex between the enzyme and the inhibitor.