The Level and Stability of Residual Catalase in Cultured Acatalasemic Skin Fibroblasts

In an attempt to determine the level and heat stability of residual catalase in somatic cells of acatalasemic Japanese, skin fibroblasts from an acatalasemic subject were cultured, and the catalase activity of the cultured fibroblasts was compared with that of cultured normal fibroblasts. Catalase activity was determined using an oxygen electrode. The residual catalase activity in cultured acatalasemic fibroblasts was 10% of the normal. The heat stability at 55 degrees C of residual catalase in the acatalasemic fibroblasts was similar to that of normal fibroblasts.