Principle for Catalase

Heyo amigos,

Catalase test is very popular amongst students for it's magical  effervescence when we mix the colony of an organism (Mostly S.aureus) from the plate with a drop of hydrogen peroxide (H2O2). 

So what is the reason behind this 'cokish' effervescence, is what we will be exploring today.

Catalse is an enzyme which found in every living organism living under the sun breathing oxygen. It decomposes Hydrogen peroxide to water and oxygen thus saving us from harmful reactive oxygen species, which can cause premature ageing making you cake up layers of Olay on your face. 

Or it can be Pond's or..

We are talking here Catalase, not discussing cosmetics.

Oh yeah.

So catalase saves us and even the aerobic micro-organisms from Hydrogen peroxide which forms while normal cellular metabolic processes which damages the cells and tissues.Thus to prevent this damage catalase immediately degrades the H2O2 and forms water and oxygen.The enzyme contains a porphyrin heme (Iron) group which helps it to react with the H2O2. 

The bubbles or effervescence seen during the reaction are due to production of oxygen which is interpreted as a positive reaction.

Positive organism ; Staphylococcus aureus.

Negative organism ; Streptococcus

Hope this saves you from your dreaded vivas.

Let's end with a high six.

-Staph <3