Formation of noncovalent complexes between tyrosinase from mushrooms and a cationic polyelectrolyte, polybrene (PB, poly (1,5-dimethyl-1,5-diazaunde-camethyelene) bromide), was shown to activate and stabilize tyrosinase in water-ethanol mixtures. In the reaction of catechol oxidation in aqueous solutions, catalytic activity (k(cat)) of tyrosinase-PB complex ([PB]/[tyrosinase] molar ratio 100:1, per mole of polymer) in a wide range of pH was higher than that of free tyrosinase. In aqueous solutions and in water-ethanol mixtures at moderate concentrations of ethanol (10-40% v/v), the value of k(cat), of tyrosinase-PB complex exceeded the activity of free enzyme, from 1.2-2-fold, accompanied by the essential (up to 10-fold) increase in the value of the specificity constant (k(cat)/K-m). The results are of practical importance for the construction of biocatalysts working successfully in polar organic media. (C) 2003 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.