Peroxidasa Courses

Peroxidases are ubiquitously distributed hemoproteins, in plants, animals, and microbes, involved in the degradation of the hydrogen peroxide, either generated as a by-product of metabolic reactions or through external sources of its generation. Peroxidases have a wide range of applications including hydrogen peroxide degradation and signaling, protection against oxidative attack, detoxification of xenobiotics, promoting reactions of heme synthesis and abundant biological functions. Enzymes have catalytic actions in which small molecules, such as hydrogen peroxide, are broken down into other molecules. The peroxidase enzyme catalyzes the breakdown of hydrogen peroxide into water and oxygen. It is composed of two components; the heme group and the protein component. The heme group part is made up of an iron atom which can bind to and break down the hydrogen peroxide molecules. The protein component binds to the heme group, activating it to carry out its function. Peroxidase has been studied for its variety of biological functions. Its presence in plants helps protect them from oxidative stress and to create defense mechanisms against pests and diseases. In animals, it plays an important role in enzyme protection against oxidative stresses and for its role in heme absorption in the liver. The peroxidase enzyme is also widely used in life sciences for applications such as the detection of mRNA and proteins in diagnostic assays, and in homogenous enzyme-based assays. Moreover, peroxidase has potential applications in biotechnology as it can be used to break down hydrogen peroxide in waste sites or to produce hydrogen peroxide with high purity; it can also be used to make biofuels. In addition, peroxidase is used in the food industry for dietetic and functional food applications, such as protein-digesting enzymes, and has been studied as a model enzyme in research of hydrogen peroxide-generated oxidations.