An investigation into the effect of substrate concentration on the activity of the enzyme catalase in processed liver.

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An investigation into the effect of substrate concentration on the activity of the enzyme catalase in processed liver.

By Steven Duong

Background

Catalase behaves as a catalyst for the conversion of hydrogen peroxide into water and oxygen. Catalase is an example of a particularly efficient enzyme. Catalase has one of the highest turnover numbers for all known enzymes (40,000,000 molecules/second). This high rate shows an importance for the enzymes capability for detoxifying hydrogen peroxide and preventing the formation of carbon dioxide bubbles in the blood.

Advantages of hydrogen peroxide:

Powerful - H2O2 is one of the most powerful oxidizers known -- stronger than chlorine, chlorine dioxide, and potassium permanganate. And through catalysis, H2O2 can be converted into hydroxyl radicals.

Safe - Despite its power, H2O2 is a natural metabolite of many organisms, which decompose the H2O2 they produce into oxygen and water. H2O2 is also formed by the action of sunlight on water -- a natural purification system for our environment.

Versatile - The fact that H2O2 is used for seemingly converse applications proves its versatility. For example, it can inhibit microbial and encourage microbial growth. Similarly,