I conducted the experiment where the chilled catalase enzymes performed produced a higher concentration of oxygen gas compared to the catalase at room temperature. We used 1M hydrogen peroxide solution. Refer to this article http://www.jbc.org/content/68/3/521.full.pdf
I did some research and I found another experiment which supported my results. Refer to this article http://www.jbc.org/content/68/3/521.full.pdf.
But, I am not sure why I got those results. Catalase is supposed to have an optimal temperature around 35-37 degrees Celsius.
I think that in the article from 1926 that you cite, the low temperature optimum may have arisen from the use of very high peroxide concentrations. The damage to the enzyme from the peroxide probably decreased with decreasing temperature. The optimal activity of the enzyme at realistic peroxide concentrations is probably in the usual physiological range (37C).
It could be worth seeing if you can replicate those results in one of the newer USP catalase assays, like the one in the 9th edition (Rockville, MD, 2014. United States Pharmacopeial Convention. Food Chemicals Codex, 9th ed.; Assay is on pg 1393.) I certainly wouldn't expect to see a catalase behave that way. What is the source organism?
- Badges
- Science topic
- Similar topics
- Biological Science
- Biochemistry
- Enzymology
- Enzymes