A novel catalase from an extreme microorganism
By Felipe Sarmiento, Ph.D., Business Innovation Director of Swissaustral USA
Swissaustral is a worldwide specialist in extreme biotechnology, developing innovative solutions for non-standard technological challenges in life sciences and industry. Our company exploits the potential of extremophiles, or microorganisms that thrive under extreme conditions, and their unexplored metabolic pathways as a unique and diverse natural source of novel enzymes, genes/backbones and other bio-actives for different industrial and research applications.
This year, Swissaustral added recombinant microbial catalase to its portfolio of High-Performance Enzymes™. The enzyme is an oxidoreductase that catalyzes the decomposition of hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) into molecular oxygen and water. In nature, catalase functions as a natural antioxidant protecting the cell against oxidative damage caused by H2O2. Even though there are several catalases isolated from bovine liver and other microorganisms, our high-performance catalase is unique.
Swissaustral catalase was originally discovered in a psychrotolerant (or cold-adapted) microorganism, from our proprietary extremophiles collection. As a recombinant, microbial-origin enzyme, its production is fast, sustainable and free from any animal- or plant-related contamination. This enzyme has an optimal activity at 40⁰C and maintains over 80% of its activity in a broad spectrum of temperatures (from 20 to 70⁰C). When compared to other commercially available fungal or bovine catalases for the research market, Swissaustral catalase outcompetes them over the full range of temperatures (Figure 1). In addition, this novel catalase presents high stability at room temperature and superior thermal stability over time at high temperatures.
Because of the high purity, activity and stability, Swissaustral catalase is perfectly suited for use in research and clinical chemistry as a standard, for testing, or for cleaning-up residual hydrogen peroxide, among other applications. In addition, because of its “extreme” characteristics, such as thermostability and optimal activity over a wide range of temperatures, the catalase is designed to meet industrial requirements. Indeed, in industry, catalase is used for diverse applications, such as:
- Textile industry: removing hydrogen peroxide from fabrics
- Food industry: removing hydrogen peroxide from milk, preventing food from oxidizing in food wrappers, and working together with other enzymes to remove glucose from egg white
- Bioremediation: removing hydrogen peroxide contamination
In conclusion, Swissaustral’s catalase is a powerful novel enzyme designed for research and industrial applications. It can be accessed in different sizes to meet your specific requirements through the Kerafast platform.
Learn more about Swissaustral’s recombinant microbial catalase »
