
302  structures 3265  species 3  interactions 5600  sequences 27  architectures

Family: Catalase (PF00199)

Summary: Catalase


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Catalase Edit Wikipedia article

PDB 7cat EBI.jpg
Symbol Catalase
Pfam PF00199
InterPro IPR011614
SCOP 7cat
OPM superfamily 435
OPM protein 3e4w
CDD cd00328
EC number
CAS number 9001-05-2
IntEnz IntEnz view
ExPASy NiceZyme view
MetaCyc metabolic pathway
PRIAM profile
PDB structures RCSB PDB PDBe PDBsum
Gene Ontology AmiGO / EGO
Catalase Structure.png
PDB rendering based on 1dgb.
Available structures
PDB Ortholog search: PDBe, RCSB
Symbols CAT ; MGC138422; MGC138424
External IDs OMIM115500 MGI88271 HomoloGene55514 GeneCards: CAT Gene
EC number
RNA expression pattern
PBB GE CAT 201432 at tn.png
PBB GE CAT 211922 s at tn.png
More reference expression data
Species Human Mouse
Entrez 847 12359
Ensembl ENSG00000121691 ENSMUSG00000027187
UniProt P04040 P24270
RefSeq (mRNA) NM_001752 NM_009804
RefSeq (protein) NP_001743 NP_033934
Location (UCSC) Chr 11:
34.46 – 34.49 Mb
Chr 2:
103.45 – 103.49 Mb
PubMed search [1] [2]

Catalase is a common enzyme found in nearly all living organisms exposed to oxygen (such as vegetables, fruit or animals). It catalyzes the decomposition of hydrogen peroxide to water and oxygen.[1] It is a very important enzyme in protecting the cell from oxidative damage by reactive oxygen species (ROS). Likewise, catalase has one of the highest turnover numbers of all enzymes; one catalase molecule can convert millions of molecules of hydrogen peroxide to water and oxygen each second.[2]

Catalase is a tetramer of four polypeptide chains, each over 500 amino acids long.[3] It contains four porphyrin heme (iron) groups that allow the enzyme to react with the hydrogen peroxide. The optimum pH for human catalase is approximately 7,[4] and has a fairly broad maximum (the rate of reaction does not change appreciably at pHs between 6.8 and 7.5).[5] The pH optimum for other catalases varies between 4 and 11 depending on the species.[6] The optimum temperature also varies by species.[7]


Catalase was first noticed in 1818 when Louis Jacques Thénard, who discovered H2O2 (hydrogen peroxide), suggested its breakdown is caused by an unknown substance. In 1900, Oscar Loew was the first to give it the name catalase, and found it in many plants and animals.[8] In 1937 catalase from beef liver was crystallised by James B. Sumner and Alexander Dounce[9] and the molecular weight was found in 1938.[10]

In 1969, the amino acid sequence of bovine catalase was discovered.[11] Then in 1981, the three-dimensional structure of the protein was revealed.[12]


The reaction of catalase in the decomposition of hydrogen peroxide in living tissue:

2 H2O2 → 2 H2O + O2

The presence of catalase in a microbial or tissue sample can be tested by adding a volume of hydrogen peroxide and observing the reaction. The formation of bubbles, oxygen, indicates a positive result. This easy assay, which can be seen with the naked eye, without the aid of instruments, is possible because catalase has a very high specific activity, which produces a detectable response.

Molecular mechanism

While the complete mechanism of catalase is not currently known,[13] the reaction is believed to occur in two stages:

Here Fe()-E represents the iron center of the heme group attached to the enzyme. Fe(IV)-E(.+) is a mesomeric form of Fe(V)-E, meaning the iron is not completely oxidized to +V, but receives some "supporting electrons" from the heme ligand. This heme has to be drawn then as a radical cation (.+).

As hydrogen peroxide enters the active site, it interacts with the amino acids Asn147 (asparagine at position 147) and His74, causing a proton (hydrogen ion) to transfer between the oxygen atoms. The free oxygen atom coordinates, freeing the newly formed water molecule and Fe(IV)=O. Fe(IV)=O reacts with a second hydrogen peroxide molecule to reform Fe(III)-E and produce water and oxygen.[13] The reactivity of the iron center may be improved by the presence of the phenolate ligand of Tyr357 in the fifth iron ligand, which can assist in the oxidation of the Fe(III) to Fe(IV). The efficiency of the reaction may also be improved by the interactions of His74 and Asn147 with reaction intermediates.[13] In general, the rate of the reaction can be determined by the Michaelis-Menten equation.[14]


H2O2 + H2R → 2H2O + R

The exact mechanism of this reaction is not known.

Any heavy metal ion (such as copper cations in copper(II) sulfate) can act as a noncompetitive inhibitor of catalase. Furthermore, the poison cyanide is a competitive inhibitor of catalase at high concentrations of hydrogen peroxide.[15]

Three-dimensional protein structures of the peroxidated catalase intermediates are available at the Protein Data Bank. This enzyme is commonly used in laboratories as a tool for learning the effect of enzymes upon reaction rates.

Cellular role


The true biological significance of catalase is not always straightforward to assess: Mice genetically engineered to lack catalase are phenotypically normal, indicating this enzyme is dispensable in animals under some conditions.[17] A catalase deficiency may increase the likelihood of developing type 2 diabetes.[18][19] Some humans have very low levels of catalase (acatalasia), yet show few ill effects. The predominant scavengers of H2O2 in normal mammalian cells are likely peroxiredoxins rather than catalase.[citation needed]

Human catalase works at an optimum temperature of 45°C,.[5] In contrast, catalase isolated from the hyperthermophile archaeon Pyrobaculum calidifontis has a temperature optimum of 90°C.[20]


Catalase contributes to ethanol metabolism in the body after ingestion of alcohol, but it only breaks down a small fraction of the alcohol in the body.[23]

Distribution among organisms

All known animals use catalase in every organ, with particularly high concentrations occurring in the liver .[citation needed] One unique use of catalase occurs in the bombardier beetle. This beetle has two sets of chemicals ordinarily stored separately in its paired glands. The larger of the pair, the storage chamber or reservoir, contains hydroquinones and hydrogen peroxide, whereas the smaller of the pair, the reaction chamber, contains catalases and peroxidases. To activate the noxious spray, the beetle mixes the contents of the two compartments, causing oxygen to be liberated from hydrogen peroxide. The oxygen oxidizes the hydroquinones and also acts as the propellant.[24] The oxidation reaction is very exothermic (ΔH = −202.8 kJ/mol) which rapidly heats the mixture to the boiling point.[25]

Catalase is also universal among plants, and many fungi are also high producers of the enzyme.[26]



Hydrogen peroxide

Catalase is used in the food industry for removing hydrogen peroxide from milk prior to cheese production.[28] Another use is in food wrappers where it prevents food from oxidizing.[29] Catalase is also used in the textile industry, removing hydrogen peroxide from fabrics to make sure the material is peroxide-free.[30]

A minor use is in contact lens hygiene - a few lens-cleaning products disinfect the lens using a hydrogen peroxide solution; a solution containing catalase is then used to decompose the hydrogen peroxide before the lens is used again.[31] Recently, catalase has also begun to be used in the aesthetics industry. Several mask treatments combine the enzyme with hydrogen peroxide on the face with the intent of increasing cellular oxygenation in the upper layers of the epidermis.

Catalase test

Positive catalase reaction

The catalase test is also one of the main three tests used by microbiologists to identify species of bacteria. The presence of catalase enzyme in the test isolate is detected using hydrogen peroxide. If the bacteria possess catalase (i.e., are catalase-positive), when a small amount of bacterial isolate is added to hydrogen peroxide, bubbles of oxygen are observed.

The catalase test is done by placing a drop of hydrogen peroxide on a microscope slide. Using an applicator stick, a scientist touches the colony, and then smears a sample into the hydrogen peroxide drop.

While the catalase test alone cannot identify a particular organism, combined with other tests, such as antibiotic resistance, it can aid identification. The presence of catalase in bacterial cells depends on both the growth condition and the medium used to grow the cells.

Capillary tubes may also be used. A small amount of bacteria is collected on the end of the capillary tube (it is essential to ensure that the end is not blocked, otherwise it may present a false negative). The opposite end is then dipped into hydrogen peroxide which will draw up the liquid (through capillary action), and turned upside down, so the bacterial end is closest to the bench. A few taps of the arm should then move the hydrogen peroxide closer to the bacteria. When the hydrogen peroxide and bacteria are touching, bubbles may begin to rise, giving a positive catalase result.

Gray hair

According to recent scientific studies, low levels of catalase may play a role in the graying process of human hair. Hydrogen peroxide is naturally produced by the body and catalase breaks it down. If catalase levels decline, hydrogen peroxide cannot be broken down as well. This allows the hydrogen peroxide to bleach the hair from the inside out. This finding may someday be incorporated into cosmetic treatments for graying hair.[35][36][37]


Catalase has been shown to interact with the ABL2[38] and Abl genes.[38]

See also


  1. ^ Chelikani P, Fita I, Loewen PC (January 2004). "Diversity of structures and properties among catalases". Cell. Mol. Life Sci. 61 (2): 192–208. doi:10.1007/s00018-003-3206-5. PMID 14745498. 
  2. ^ Goodsell DS (2004-09-01). "Catalase". Molecule of the Month. RCSB Protein Data Bank. Retrieved 2007-02-11. 
  4. ^ Maehly AC, Chance B (1954). "The assay of catalases and peroxidases". Methods Biochem Anal. Methods of Biochemical Analysis 1: 357–424. doi:10.1002/9780470110171.ch14. ISBN 978-0-470-11017-1. PMID 13193536. 
  5. ^ a b Aebi H (1984). "Catalase in vitro". In Aebi, Hugo. Meth. Enzymol. Methods in Enzymology 105: 121–126. doi:10.1016/S0076-6879(84)05016-3. ISBN 0-12-182005-X. PMID 6727660. 
  8. ^ Loew O (May 1900). "A New Enzyme of General Occurrence in Organisms". Science 11 (279): 701–702. doi:10.1126/science.11.279.701. PMID 17751716. 
  9. ^ Sumner JB, Dounce AL (April 1937). "Crystalline catalase". Science 85 (2206): 366–367. doi:10.1126/science.85.2206.366. PMID 17776781. 
  10. ^ Sumner JB, Gralén N (March 1938). "The molecular weight of crystalline catalase". Science 87 (2256): 284–284. doi:10.1126/science.87.2256.284. PMID 17831682. 
  11. ^ Schroeder WA, Shelton JR, Shelton JB, Robberson B, Apell G (May 1969). "The amino acid sequence of bovine liver catalase: a preliminary report". Arch. Biochem. Biophys. 131 (2): 653–655. doi:10.1016/0003-9861(69)90441-X. PMID 4892021. 
  12. ^ Murthy MR, Reid TJ, Sicignano A, Tanaka N, Rossmann MG (October 1981). "Structure of beef liver catalase". J. Mol. Biol. 152 (2): 465–499. doi:10.1016/0022-2836(81)90254-0. PMID 7328661. 
  14. ^ Maass E (1998-07-19). "How does the concentration of hydrogen peroxide affect the reaction". MadSci Network. Retrieved 009-03-02. 
  15. ^ Ogura, Y.; Yamazaki, I. (Aug 1983). "Steady-state kinetics of the catalase reaction in the presence of cyanide.". J Biochem 94 (2): 403–8. PMID 6630165. 
  16. ^ Gaetani GF, Ferraris AM, Rolfo M, Mangerini R, Arena S, Kirkman HN (1996). "Predominant role of catalase in the disposal of hydrogen peroxide within human erythrocytes". Blood 87 (4): 1595–9. PMID 8608252. 
  17. ^ Ho YS, Xiong Y, Ma W, Spector A, Ho DS (2004). "Mice Lacking Catalase Develop Normally but Show Differential Sensitivity to Oxidant Tissue Injury". J Biol Chem 279 (31): 32804–32812. doi:10.1074/jbc.M404800200. PMID 15178682. 
  18. ^ Góth L, Bigler WN (2001). "Blood Catalase Deficiency and Diabetes in Hungary". Diabetes Care 24 (10): 1839–1840. doi:10.2337/diacare.24.10.1839. PMID 11574451. 
  19. ^ Góth L (2008). "Catalase Deficiency and Type 2 Diabetes". Diabetes Care 24 (10): e93–e93. doi:10.2337/dc08-1607. PMID 19033415. 
  20. ^ Amo T, Atomi H, Imanaka T (June 2002). "Unique presence of a manganese catalase in a hyperthermophilic archaeon, Pyrobaculum calidifontis VA1". J. Bacteriol. 184 (12): 3305–3312. doi:10.1128/JB.184.12.3305-3312.2002. PMC 135111. PMID 12029047. 
  22. ^ Srinivasa Rao PS, Yamada Y, Leung KY (September 2003). "A major catalase (KatB) that is required for resistance to H2O2 and phagocyte-mediated killing in Edwardsiella tarda". Microbiology (Reading, Engl.) 149 (Pt 9): 2635–2644. doi:10.1099/mic.0.26478-0. PMID 12949187. 
  23. ^
  24. ^ Eisner T, Aneshansley DJ (August 1999). "Spray aiming in the bombardier beetle: photographic evidence". Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A. 96 (17): 9705–9709. doi:10.1073/pnas.96.17.9705. PMC 22274. PMID 10449758. 
  25. ^ Beheshti N, McIntosh AC (2006). "A biomimetic study of the explosive discharge of the bombardier beetle". Int. Journal of Design & Nature 1 (1): 1–9. 
  26. ^ Isobe K, Inoue N, Takamatsu Y, Kamada K, Wakao N (January 2006). "Production of catalase by fungi growing at low pH and high temperature". J. Biosci. Bioeng. 101 (1): 73–76. doi:10.1263/jbb.101.73. PMID 16503295. 
  27. ^ Brioukhanov AL, Netrusov AI, Eggen RI (June 2006). "The catalase and superoxide dismutase genes are transcriptionally up-regulated upon oxidative stress in the strictly anaerobic archaeon Methanosarcina barkeri". Microbiology (Reading, Engl.) 152 (Pt 6): 1671–1677. doi:10.1099/mic.0.28542-0. PMID 16735730. 
  30. ^ "textile industry". Case study 228. International Cleaner Production Information Clearinghouse. Retrieved 2009-03-01. 
  33. ^ Johnson M. "Catalase Production". Biochemical Tests. Mesa Community College. Retrieved 2009-03-01. 
  36. ^ Hitti M (2009-02-25). "Why Hair Goes Gray". Health News. WebMD. Retrieved 2009-03-01. 
  38. ^ a b Cao C, Leng Y, Kufe D (August 2003). "Catalase activity is regulated by c-Abl and Arg in the oxidative stress response". J. Biol. Chem. 278 (32): 29667–75. doi:10.1074/jbc.M301292200. PMID 12777400. 

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Catalase Provide feedback

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External database links

This tab holds annotation information from the InterPro database.

InterPro entry IPR011614

Catalases (EC) are antioxidant enzymes that catalyse the conversion of hydrogen peroxide to water and molecular oxygen, serving to protect cells from its toxic effects [PUBMED:11351128]. Hydrogen peroxide is produced as a consequence of oxidative cellular metabolism and can be converted to the highly reactive hydroxyl radical via transition metals, this radical being able to damage a wide variety of molecules within a cell, leading to oxidative stress and cell death. Catalases act to neutralise hydrogen peroxide toxicity, and are produced by all aerobic organisms ranging from bacteria to man. Most catalases are mono-functional, haem-containing enzymes, although there are also bifunctional haem-containing peroxidase/catalases (INTERPRO) that are closely related to plant peroxidases, and non-haem, manganese-containing catalases (INTERPRO) that are found in bacteria [PUBMED:14745498]. Based on a phylogenetic analysis, catalases can be classified into clade 1, 2 and 3. Clade 1 contains small subunit catalases from plants and a subset of bacteria; clade 2 contains large subunit catalases from fungi and a second subset of bacteria; and clade 3 contains small subunit catalases from bacteria, fungi, protists, animals, and plants [PUBMED:9287428, PUBMED:12557185].

This entry represent the core-forming domain of mono-functional, haem-containing catalases. It does not cover the region that carries an immune-responsive amphipathic octa-peptide that is found in the C-terminal of some catalases (INTERPRO).

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Curation and family details


Curation View help on the curation process

Seed source: Prosite
Previous IDs: catalase;
Type: Domain
Author: Finn RD
Number in seed: 121
Number in full: 5600
Average length of the domain: 346.50 aa
Average identity of full alignment: 44 %
Average coverage of the sequence by the domain: 69.89 %

HMM information View help on HMM parameters

HMM build commands:
build method: hmmbuild -o /dev/null HMM SEED
Model details:
Parameter Sequence Domain
Gathering cut-off 19.6 19.6
Trusted cut-off 19.8 19.6
Noise cut-off 19.2 19.4
Model length: 384
Family (HMM) version: 14
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There are 3 interactions for this family. More...

Catalase-rel DJ-1_PfpI Catalase


For those sequences which have a structure in the Protein DataBank, we use the mapping between UniProt, PDB and Pfam coordinate systems from the PDBe group, to allow us to map Pfam domains onto UniProt sequences and three-dimensional protein structures. The table below shows the structures on which the Catalase domain has been found. There are 302 instances of this domain found in the PDB. Note that there may be multiple copies of the domain in a single PDB structure, since many structures contain multiple copies of the same protein seqence.

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