On the use of 2,4,5-trihydroxyphenethylamine as a rapid method for laccase quantification.

The sensitivity of the autoxidation of 2,4,5-trihydroxyphenethylamine (6-hydroxydopamine) to increase by laccase was studied. The autoxidation of 6-hydroxydopamine proceeds by a free radical chain reaction involving O2- and produces the corresponding chromogen 6-hydroxydopaminequinone and hydrogen peroxide. The ability of laccase to increase the autoxidation of 6-hydroxydopamine at pH 5.5 has been used as sensitive assay for this enzyme. The results are tabulated and discussed.