Biopolymers and cell. 2005; 21 (1): 28 - 34

Rat liver catalase under artificial hypobiosis conditions

O. O. Gudkova, N. V. Latyshko, L. V. Gudkova, V. O. Mikhailovsky

The peculiarities of antioxidant enzyme catalase action in hybernation were studied. In vivo and in vitro assays show that (HCO₃^-CO₂) activates rat liver catalase. It was determined that between pH 7.2 and 8.5 the enzyme was stable when the  carbon concentration was constant. The catalase K_M values at norm and hypobiosis are of the same level. Nevertheless, the enzyme k_cat and k_cat/K_M values rise was established under the hypobiosis conditions. This increase relates to a greater biocatalyst efficiency rather than to a higher level of its synthesis.

Key words: catalase, hypobiosis, carbon dioxide, polyamines.