The catalase-hydrogen peroxide system. Role of sub-units in the thermal deactivation of bacterial catalase in the absence of substrate.

1. Kinetic studies of the thermal deactivation of bacterial catalase in the absence of substrate suggest that the reaction involves a protonation-induced reversible dissociation of catalase into catalatically inactive sub-units, followed by an irreversible transformation of the sub-units into deactivated products. It is possible that the sub-units are mono-haem species. The rate of deactivation decreases with increasing pressure in accordance with the predictions of the proposed model. 2. The results also imply that the addition of hydrogen peroxide substrate induces the re-formation of active catalase. Under appropriate conditions the activity of catalase is found to increase with time in a manner that is quantitatively consistent with the results of deactivation studies.