Source: Fondazione Diasorin
Level of schooling: high
Classrooms: 3, 4, 5
Date: 14-10-2020
The cellular metabolism in bacteria leads to the production of oxygenated water (or hydrogen peroxide) and free radicals such as superoxide anion. If these compounds accumulate, they become dangerous for the cell because they can damage its DNA and cellular structures. However, some bacteria have an enzyme, peroxidase (orcatalase), able to convert oxygenated water into water and molecular oxygen.
This protocol, which is easy to perform in a school laboratory equipped with microbiology instruments such as a laminar flow hood, makes it possible to check whether or not a specific bacterial strain has the catalase enzyme. It is also used to distinguish gram-positive strains, specifically staphylococci or micrococci (positive to testing) from streptococci and enterococci (negative to testing).
Download the test protocols and discover how to study bacterial metabolism using the catalase test!
