What is Catalase Assay Kit ?

Catalase Assay Kit present in nearly all aerobic cells, serves to protect the cell against oxidative damage caused by hydrogenperoxide (H2O2). Hydrogen peroxide, although not a free radical, is highly reactive.
Catalase Assay Kitits decomposition into molecular oxygen and water without the production of free radicals. Catalase also uses hydrogen peroxide to oxidize toxins including phenols, formic acid,formaldehyde, and alcohols. The beef liver catalase monomer consists of 506 amino acids, a heme prosthetic group, and one NADH molecule.
The enzyme is among the most efficient known, with rates approaching 200,000 catalytic events/second/subunit, which is near the diffusion-controlled limit. Our catalase assay system is based on the ability of hydrogen peroxide to oxidize an azo chromogen with an accompanying increase in O.D.410-420 nm, which can be conveniently quantified by spectroscopy. The presence of catalase reduces the amount of hydrogen peroxide, thus inhibiting the oxidation of the azo chromogen and the appearance of the yellowish color.
This inhibition of chromogen oxidation is thus proportional to the activity of catalase present in the sample. As little as 103-104 cells can be used per assay. The assay issimple, non-radioactive, and very sensitive. Each Catalase Assay Kit is sufficient for 250 microassays. The assay requires a 50ºC incubator.