On the mechanism of the decomposition of hydrogen peroxide by catalase

Abstract

Abstract In a previous paper (Keilin and Hartree 1936) it was shown that catalase combines reversibly not only with KCN and H2S as was shown by Zeile and Hellstrom (1930) or with C2H5OOH (Stern 1936) but also with NaN3, NH2OH, N2H4, NaF and NO, giving corresponding spectroscopically well defined compounds. In this respect and in the general pattern of the absorption spectrum, catalase shows a striking resemblance to acid methaemoglobin. It differs, however, from the latter in three important properties, namely: