What is the importance of the enzyme peroxidase?

Answer 1

to break down peroxide, which is toxic to cells.

Answer 2

A peroxidase is an enzyme, which may contain heme, that catalyzes a reaction of the form:

ROOR' + electron donor (2 e-) + 2H+ → ROH + R'OH
For many of these enzymes the optimal substrate is hydrogen peroxide, but others are more active with organic hydroperoxides such as lipid peroxides.

The nature of the electron donor is very dependent on the structure of the enzyme. For example, horseradish peroxidase can use a variety of organic compounds as electron donors and acceptors. Horseradish peroxidase has a broad and accessible active site and many compounds can reach the site of the reaction. For an enzyme such as cytochrome c peroxidase, the compounds that donate electrons are very specific, because there is a very closed active site.

Answer 3

some peroxysomes use oxygen to break fatty accid down into smaller molecules that can then be transported to mitochondria, where they are used as fuel for cellular respiration. In the liver, peroxisomes detoxify alcohol and other harmful compounds by transfering hydrogen from the poisons to oxygen. Specialized peroxisomes called glyoxysomes are found in the fat-storing tissues of plant seeds, which contain enzymes that initiate the conversion of fatty acids to sugar.