Human Erythrocyte Catalase
From Proteopedia
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IntroductionHuman Erythrocyte Catalase is an enzyme whose main function is to break down hydrogen peroxide that is produced as a byproduct of metabolism[1]. Catalase can break down approximately one million molecules of hydrogen peroxide per second [2]. Without catalase hydrogen peroxide would build up and cause damage to the cell and could even signal it to initiate cell death [1]. Structurally it contains four subunits each with a heme group in the center which allows it to break down the peroxide in human cells [2]. See also Catalase. FunctionHuman erythrocyte catalase is used to protect hemoglobin by removing hydrogen peroxide generated from erythrocytes. Human catalase is a heme-containing enzyme whose primary function is to break down hydrogen peroxide into two molecules of water and one molecule of oxygen. Human catalase plays a major part in the defense against oxidative damage and inactivation of hemoglobin by removing the hydrogen peroxide formed by human erythrocytes [3] . Hydrogen peroxide is a byproduct of normal cellular respiration, but is toxic at high concentrations. If catalase does not break down hydrogen peroxide, it gets converted into a reactive oxygen species and can damage DNA, proteins, and cell membranes [4]. Human catalase enzyme has been noted as an important factor in prevention of apoptosis and stimulation of tumors. During a normal catalytic cycle hydrogen peroxide is the source of both oxidative and reductive potential. NADPH has been known to also bind to human catalase, however, it does not serve as an oxidizing or reducing agent, but protects the catalase from being inactivated by hydrogen peroxide [3]. 
StructureHuman erythrocyte catalase is a negatively charged heme-containing monofunctional tetrameric enzyme that is prevalent among aerobic organisms [5][2][6][7][8]. The catalase fold contains an eight-sheeted anti-parallel beta-barrel domain linked to a six alpha-helical domain via a lengthy protein sequence. Residues within β1-β4 contribute to the heme variant, while residues within β5-β8 establish the NADPH binding site [7]. The positioning of the heme is determined by the proximal aromatic pyrrole compounds; in human erythrocyte catalase, catalytic His75 is above pyrrole ring III, further producing a His-III orientation and heme-b variant. The is located at the β,α-domain junction [2][7]. When the NADPH molecule is bound, a right-handed clockwise helical formation is produced. In human erythrocyte catalase, only two of the four subunits allow for NADPH binding [5][7]. The active site contains a negatively charged tyrosine and a positively charged histidine situated, respectively, proximal and distal to the heme group. The histidine is responsible for the formation of Compound I during the first step of the catalase mechanism [2].
MechanismStable forms of hydrogen peroxide are beneficial in biological reactions including hypoxia signal transduction, cell proliferation and differentiation regulation, as well as immune response mediation; however, it is toxic at high levels as free hydroxyl ions cannot be catalyzed by the body [9]. Hydrogen peroxide acts to both the oxidizing and reducing agent of the iron. Catalase ultimately functions to break down hydrogen peroxide[6]. This is accomplished in a two-step mechanism where the heme is first oxidized by a molecule of hydrogen peroxide to produce Compound I, a high energy oxyferryl cation radical intermediate, as well as a water molecule. Compound I is then immediately reduced by a second hydrogen peroxide molecule to produce a second molecule of water [2][7]. The overall reaction results in two single-electron transfers from the iron atom of the heme group and the porphyrin from the oxoferryl radical, as well as a proton transfer from histidine. The mechanism is enthalpically driven by the distal histidine proton transfer as it is more exothermic than the electron transfers [2][7] . The deeply buried heme group is connected to the protein surface by a primary channel which provides a transport pathway for the hydrogen peroxide substrate [7]. The transportation of hydrogen peroxide through the main channel is regulated by electrical dipole interactions between the hydrogen peroxide and the hydrophobic portion of the channel containing negatively charged aspartate and positively charged iron from the heme [9][7]. Additionally, less significant lateral channels allow products to leave the heme pocket[7]. 
Disease and DisordersThere are 12 known mutations in the human erythrocyte catalase gene that have been found to cause acatalasemia [11]. Acatalasemia is an autosomal recessive condition in which human erythrocyte catalase levels are very low and occurs in individuals that are homozygous at the catalase gene locus. Most people are asymptomatic and are diagnosed because a family member is affected. However, although they are asymptomatic, they have an increased risk of chronic diseases. Acatalasemia can be correlated with ulcers and gangrene. When this occurs, the condition is known as Takahara disease. Ulcers and gangrene can result from high levels of hydrogen peroxide that is normally produced from bacteria. Mutations in the human erythrocyte catalase gene tend to reduce the activity of human erythrocyte catalase [12] to less than 10% of its normal activity, thus reducing the enzymes ability to degrade hydrogen peroxide and causing it to build-up. This build-up in turn causes ulcers and gangrene. A similar condition to acatalasemia is hypocatalasemia, in which an individual is heterozygous at the mutated catalase gene instead of homozygous. This mutation cuts the activity of human erythrocyte catalase by half. Similar to acatalasemia, this condition normally doesn’t cause health issues [13]. Acatalasemia is also associated with type 2 diabetes mellitus, the most common form of diabetes. The build-up of hydrogen peroxide from the decrease in human erythrocyte catalase activity can damage beta cells in the pancreas. The pancreas releases insulin, which helps the body regulate your blood sugar levels. However, the damaged beta cells cannot utilize the insulin as well as normal beta cells, which leads to type 2 diabetes mellitus. These defective beta cells are thought to be why people with acatalasemia have an increased risk for type 2 diabetes mellitus. A larger percentage of people with diabetes have acatalasemia than those without. Those with acatalasemia also tend to develop diabetes at an earlier age [12]. Common variations in the human erythrocyte gene and variations in the regions of DNA that help to regulate the gene’s activity may also lead to an increased risk of a person developing specific common, complex diseases such as hypertension, osteoporosis, heart attack and stroke due to the elevated levels of cholesterol and other fats in the blood [12]. However, not all people experience health problems when they have a loss of catalase activity and others do not have an identified mutation in the human erythrocyte catalase gene when they have a loss in catalase activity. The cause of both of these situations is unclear. It has been hypothesized by Dr. Laszlo Goth and Dr. John Eaton that the activity is also influenced by other genetic factors as well as environmental conditions[12].
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Lindsey Bittle, Brianna Easton, Alyssa Gard, Alexander Berchansky, Rachel Gaunt, Jessica Smyth
