Transcriptional activity of this gene is activated and induced by oxygen and hydrogen peroxide upon entry into the stationary phase. Moreover, a second gene coding for heme-dependent catalase has been detected in S. xylosus. The well-described antioxidant property of S. carnous TM300, involved in the protection of meat products from hydrogen peroxide damage, depends on a set of genes, one superoxide dismutase, two catalases, and various peroxidases, involved in the protection against oxygen reactive species (Rosenstein et al. 2009).