FORMATION OF DITYROSINE BY HUMAN SALIVARY LACTOPEROXIDASE INVITRO

The study dealt with the formation of dityrosine-a cross-link in some proteins including collagen-by human salivary lactoperoxidase. Dityrosine formation was found at pH range 6.6 to 9.3 with maximum reaction velocity at pH 8.5. However, thiocyanate ions at physiological salivary concentrations inhibited dityrosine formation by 70 to 80 per cent compared with the optimum rate. The inhibition seemed to result from the competition of SCN ions and L-tyrosine for the same binding site on enzyme surface. The possibility of dityrosine cross-linking in vivo in human oral fluid seems to be limited compared with e.g. human milk or macaque saliva where the concentration of SCN ions is low but the activity of lactoperoxidase is considerably high. © 1979 Informa UK Ltd All rights reserved: reproduction in whole or part not permitted.