Occurs in almost all aerobically respiring organisms and serves to protect cells from the toxic effects of hydrogen peroxide. 2 H2O2 = 2 H2O + O2 Barely detectable in asexual spores (conidia), disappears after germination, and starts to accumulate 10 hours after spore inoculation, throughout growth and conidiation. By hydrogen peroxide, heat shock, paraquat, or uric acid catabolism but not by osmotic stress. Belongs to the catalase family.