As a result of beta-oxidation, one of the by-products produced is hydrogen peroxide. At high concentrations such as those present within peroxisomes, hydrogen peroxide is able to form a strong reactive oxygen species, therefore it is essential that it is degraded so it does not cause harm to the cell. For this reason, peroxisomes contain the enzyme catalase which is able to catalyse the degradation of hydrogen peroxide by converting it to water and oxygen:
2 H2O2 → 2 H2O + O2
Alternatively, catalase can use hydrogen peroxide to catalyse the oxidation of an organic molecule (A), which results in the conversion of hydrogen peroxide to water:
H2O2 + AH2 → 2 H2O + O2 + A
2 H2O2 → 2 H2O + O2
Alternatively, catalase can use hydrogen peroxide to catalyse the oxidation of an organic molecule (A), which results in the conversion of hydrogen peroxide to water:
H2O2 + AH2 → 2 H2O + O2 + A