Understanding how the enzyme catalase works is really important when looking at oxidative stress in patients. Catalase helps break down hydrogen peroxide, a substance that can be harmful if it builds up in the body.

Key Features of Catalase:

• Turnover Number (kₐₜ): Catalase is super fast! It has a turnover number of about 40 million per second. This means it can change a lot of hydrogen peroxide into water and oxygen really quickly.
• Michaelis Constant (Kₘ): The Kₘ values for catalase usually fall between 10 and 50 mM. This shows how strongly catalase binds to hydrogen peroxide in different parts of the body.

Why It Matters:

• Signs of Oxidative Stress: When there’s too much hydrogen peroxide, more than 30 µM, it can overwhelm catalase. This leads to the production of reactive oxygen species (ROS), which can damage cells.
• Patient Research: In patients with long-term illnesses like diabetes, the activity of catalase can drop by up to 50%. This decrease can be linked to higher levels of damage in the body caused by oxidative stress.

By understanding how catalase works, we can better assess oxidative stress and its effects on patients.