What is catalase?

Catalase enzymes is a kind of catalytic enzyme which can rapidly transform hydrogen peroxide into water and other biosafety substances Hydrogen peroxide has potential dangerous side effects on oxygen metabolism, which is a process from aerobic bacteria to plants and animals Like other enzymes, catalase is a special large protein molecule This enzyme has the function of preventing the formation of free radicals It has been proved that the active molecule of free radicals plays a certain role in causing gene mutations related to cancer Some scientific researches have found that the decrease of catalase may be the cause of the gray hair in the elderly The main function of catalase is to rapidly decompose hydrogen peroxide into water and safe oxygen compounds The metabolism of many organisms produces hydrogen peroxide as a by-product of other chemical reactions If it remains in living tissue, it can cause extensive cell damage If hydrogen peroxide continues to accumulate, it will soon endanger the organism itself For this reason, catalase is an essential part of normal cells Catalase can be found in most active cells and almost all aerobic cells Although it seems dangerous to produce hydrogen peroxide, oxygen metabolism is one of the most common metabolic processes of life on earth Oxygen can be converted into molecules called superoxide radicals, which strip important metal atoms from many biological proteins and transform their functions Without catalase metabolizing it, hydrogen peroxide can also be transformed into an active molecule that causes DNA damage and increases the risk of cancer due to mutations At present, the relationship between the decrease of catalase activity and the formation of tumor has not been fully understood in scientific research, because there are other enzymes involved in the metabolism of free radicals and hydrogen peroxide Like other enzymes, catalase is a protein macromolecule composed of many specific amino acid molecules Apart from transforming hydrogen peroxide into water, catalase can also oxidize phenols and other toxic organic chemicals These enzymes share space in compartment cells called peroxisomes, which contain enzymes important for lipid metabolism and the decomposition of harmful oxides such as hydrogen peroxide With aging, the amount of catalase produced in human body will gradually decrease Some scientific studies on the metabolism of hydrogen peroxide have shown that it interferes with melanin, a biological pigment that provides color to hair and skin The researchers believe that gray hair occurs when hydrogen peroxide builds up in tissues and is not fully removed by the system But it is puzzling that catalase deficiency is a rare genetic disease Although it does not produce catalase, there is no sign of high incidence of disease, which makes scientists doubt whether mammals rely more on other enzymes than catalase in the metabolism of hydrogen peroxide.