... of the fastest acting enzymes known. It catalyses the decomposition of hydrogen peroxide, liberating oxygen gas as effervescence, each molecule of the globular protein decomposing 40,000 molecules of hydrogen peroxide per second at­ zero degrees Celsius and capable of producing an amazing 1012 molecules of oxygen per second. The equation is: 2H2O2+Free enzyme"E-S complex(r)2H2O+O2+Free enzyme The E-S complex is an intermediary stage where the substrate forms temporary and reversible interactions with the enzyme. The reason that this is so much faster than the decomposition rate in the absence of a catalyst is to do with the activation energy for this route being lower than the energy it takes to simply break the bonds within the molecules because it forms an intermediary stage, but the mechanism for this is not yet fully understood. [See diagrams] Catalase is found in microbodies, or peroxisomes, in euchariotic cells. Peroxisomes are spherical, 0.3-1.5 mm in diameter (smaller on ...

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