Catalase is an essential enzyme that protects cells from the damaging effects of hydrogen peroxide (H2O2), a reactive oxygen species (ROS) created during cellular metabolism. Catalase is a peroxidase enzyme that is found in a variety of living creatures, including bacteria, plants, and mammals.
Catalase’s principal purpose is to degrade hydrogen peroxide into water (H2O) and molecular oxygen (O2) via a fast enzymatic process. This mechanism, known as catalysis, aids in the prevention of hydrogen peroxide accumulation, which can cause oxidative damage and cell death.
Catalase has a distinct structure that consists of four subunits that include iron-containing hem groups. These hems groups aid in the decomposition of hydrogen peroxide into nontoxic metabolites. The enzyme is extremely effective, capable of catalyzing the breakdown of millions of hydrogen peroxide molecules per second.
Catalase is required in cells to maintain cellular homeostasis and guard against oxidative stress. It is especially prevalent in tissues and organs exposed to high quantities of hydrogen peroxide, such in the liver, where it is essential for detoxifying metabolic wastes.
Catalase is an enzyme found in all living things that play an important role in protecting cells from oxidative damage. Its primary function is to catalyze the breakdown of hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) into harmless byproducts of water (H2O) and oxygen (O2). Hydrogen peroxide is produced as a byproduct of many metabolic processes in the body and is also used by immune cells to destroy pathogens. Hydrogen peroxide, on the other hand, is a powerful oxidizing agent that can harm cellular components such as proteins, lipids, and DNA. Catalase protects cells from this damage by decomposing hydrogen peroxide before it can cause damage. It does so by binding to the hydrogen peroxide molecule and facilitating its decomposition into water and oxygen. Catalase is abundant in liver and kidney cells, where it plays an important role in detoxifying harmful compounds. It is also found in red blood cells, where it aids in the prevention of oxidative stress.