Degrees: PHD, 1977, Columbia Univ; MPH, 1975, Columbia Univ; BS, 1971, CUNY City Coll

Bio: Research Interests: Structure and Mechanism of Action of Metalloenzymes

Tyrosinase is a copper-containing enzyme capable of carrying out both oxygen insertion reactions and oxidation reactions. Studies are focusing on the mechanism of oxygen insertion. The enzyme will convert various phenolic compounds to catechols, using molecular oxygen as an oxygen source. Since O2 itself is unreactive, the enzyme must be creating an intermediate capable of attacking the phenolic ring. The nature of this intermediate is currently under investigation.