Hydrogen peroxide is a substance that is produced as a byproduct of many cell processes. However, hydrogen peroxide is toxic to
cells. In fact, if cells are unable to break down hydrogen peroxide, they become poisoned and die. Catalase is an enzyme that is found in all living tissues. This enzyme speeds up the reaction that breaks down hydrogen peroxide into less harmful substances. What substances are formed as a result of this reaction?
<span>INTRODUCTION: What would happen to your cells if they made a poisonous chemical? You might think that they would die. In fact, your cells are always making poisonous chemicals. They do not die because your cells use enzymes to break down these poisonous chemicals into harmless substances. Enzymes are proteins that speed up the rate of reactions that would otherwise happen more slowly. The enzyme is not altered by the reaction. You have hundreds of different enzymes in each of your cells.</span>
Hydrogen peroxide is a harmful substance that can damage the membrane system of the cell. Cells have catalase enzyme in peroxisomes. The enzyme catalase catalyzes the breakdown of hydrogen peroxide into water and oxygen. In this way, the potential causative agent of oxidative stress, that is hydrogen peroxide, is rendered harmless by enzyme catalase.
