| abstract |
The present invention relates to a nucleic acid sequence encoding a fusion enzyme comprising a nucleic acid sequence encoding for a tyrosinase and a nucleic acid sequence encoding for a tyrosinase activator protein. Activator proteins used in the present invention are ORF438 and URF402. Prokaryotic tyrosinases that require a separate activator protein, particularly tyrosinases derived from Streptomyces are preferred. It is also preferred that the activator protein sequence be positioned (5') relative to the tyrosinase sequence. The present invention also relates to a fusion enzyme which comprises an amino acid sequence for tyrosinase and an amino acid sequence for a tyrosinase activator protein, which may also contain a linker positioned between the amino acid sequences of the activator protein and the tyrosinase. The present invention also relates to melanin produced by a fusion enzyme of the present invention. |