Which enzyme is responsible for producing effervescence when interacting with hydrogen peroxide?

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The enzyme responsible for producing effervescence when interacting with hydrogen peroxide is catalase. Catalase catalyzes the decomposition of hydrogen peroxide, a toxic byproduct of metabolic processes, into water and oxygen. This reaction is notable for the rapid release of oxygen gas, which creates bubbles or effervescence when hydrogen peroxide comes into contact with catalase.

Catalase is particularly important in organisms that are exposed to high levels of hydrogen peroxide, as it helps to protect cells from oxidative damage. The presence of bubbles is a clear indication of the enzyme's activity and its ability to efficiently convert hydrogen peroxide into harmless products.

In contrast, amylase, cellulase, and lysozyme do not catalyze this specific reaction. Amylase breaks down starch into sugars, cellulase hydrolyzes cellulose, and lysozyme lyses bacterial cell walls by breaking down peptidoglycan. None of these enzymes interact with hydrogen peroxide in a way that would produce effervescence.

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