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Catalase
Exploring the Structure
Catalase performs its rapid destruction of hydrogen peroxide in two steps. First, a molecule of hydrogen peroxide binds and is broken apart. One oxygen atom is extracted and attached to the iron atom, and the rest is released as harmless water. Then, a second hydrogen peroxide molecule binds. It is also broken apart and the pieces are combined with the iron-bound oxygen atom, releasing water and oxygen gas. PDB entry 2cag has captured catalase in the middle of this two-step reaction. The oxygen atom is bound to the iron, ready for the second hydrogen peroxide molecule to bind. The histidine and asparagine amino acids shown here assist with the reaction. The small molecule at the left is an inhibitor that the researchers used to freeze the enzyme in this interesting state, giving them the necessary time to study it.This illustration was created with RasMol. You can create similar illustrations by clicking on the accession codes here and picking one of the options under View Structure. When you are looking at these structures, make sure that you get the proper biological unit, which includes all four chains, for 8cat and 2cag.
A list of all PDB entries related to catalase as of September 1, 2004 is available here. For more information on catalase, click here.
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Last changed by: A.Honegger,